Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Sioux Falls.
Key figures
Each metric shows how Sioux Falls compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 197,642City limits · not metro/MSA
- Median household income
- $74,714Incorporated place (ACS)Near U.S. avg ($78,538)U.S. $78,538
- Housing cost index
- 82ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)18% below U.S. avgU.S. 100
- Median home value
- $271,400City limits (ACS)11% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $993City limits (ACS)26% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348
- Unemployment
- 1.8%County LAUS · not city-only2.4 pts below U.S. avgU.S. 4.2 pts
- Avg commute
- 17 min32% below U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 3522% below U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 483.2annualized per 100k · citywide20% below U.S. avgU.S. 602.7
- Property crime rate
- 3045.3annualized per 100k · citywideNear U.S. avg (3084.9)U.S. 3084.9
- Summer high
- 83°F4.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 12°F22.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 27.8 in16% below U.S. avgU.S. 32.9 in
- Sunny days
- 261Near U.S. avg (266)U.S. 266
Compare Sioux Falls with another city
Wide plains, cold winters, and relatively open housing markets define the pitch. Winter lows around 12°F mean heating costs and snow logistics belong on the checklist. Average one-way commute time is about 17 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 35/100. A recent county unemployment reading near 1.8% suggests a relatively tight local labor market. Violent-offense rates near 483.2 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota counts about 197,642 residents inside the city limits. With median income around $74,714 and a cost index of 82, the market reads among the more affordable large markets in this catalog on housing costs. A typical home near $271,400 and rents around $993 frame most shortlists.
Sioux Falls is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Sioux Falls with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Sioux Falls city, 1600000US4659020)
- BLS: BLS LAUS LAUCN460990000000003 (Minnehaha County, May 2026)
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00014944 SIOUX FALLS)
Last updated 2026-07-28
Canonical profile · All South Dakota cities · Full city index