Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Sioux Falls.

MapsToIt planning snapshot

How much does it cost to live in Sioux Falls?

Sioux Falls planning snapshot: population 209,289, housing index 82 (among the more affordable large markets in this catalog), median home $271,400, median rent $993, and income near $74,714. Expect 83°F summer highs, 12°F winter lows, and about 17-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 483.2 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).

Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10 · Source vintages vary — see per-metric labels below · Methodology & sources

Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.

Housing cost index: 82U.S. avg 100
Median home value: $271,400U.S. $303,400
Median rent: $993U.S. $1,348
Median income: $74,714U.S. $78,538
Unemployment: 1.9%U.S. 4.2%
Avg commute: 17 minCatalog avg 25 min
Violent crime: 483.2per 100k · avg 586.6
Summer high: 83°FCatalog avg 87°F

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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: 209,289City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Median household income: $74,714Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-yearNear U.S. avg ($78,538)U.S. $78,538
Housing cost index: 82ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year18% below U.S. avgU.S. 100
Median home value: $271,400City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year11% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400
Median rent: $993City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year26% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348
Unemployment: 1.9%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 20262.3 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 · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)18% below U.S. avgU.S. 586.6
Property crime rate: 3045.3annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)Near U.S. avg (3087.9)U.S. 3087.9
Summer high: 83°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals4.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
Winter low: 12°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals22.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
Annual rainfall: 27.8 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals16% below U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
Sunny days: 261As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear U.S. avg (268)U.S. 268

Population trend

Sioux Falls grew 35.4% from 154,533 in 2010 to 209,289 in 2024.

Dec 2024209,289 people+35.4% vs 2010

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.

Is Sioux Falls expensive compared to the U.S. average?

Sioux Falls's housing cost index is 82 versus 100 nationally — among the more affordable large markets in this catalog. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($271,400 vs $303,400) and rents ($993 vs $1,348).

Housing cost index 82 (U.S. 100)
Median home $271,400 vs U.S. $303,400
Median rent $993 vs U.S. $1,348

How much does housing cost in Sioux Falls?

Typical ownership costs center near $271,400, while median gross rent is about $993 a month. Against a median household income of $74,714, rent alone is roughly 16% of income on an annualized basis.

Median home value $271,400
Median rent $993/month
Median household income $74,714

What is the job market like in Sioux Falls?

County unemployment recently ran 1.9% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Sioux Falls is about $74,714 (U.S. $78,538).

Unemployment 1.9% (U.S. 4.2%)
Median income $74,714

How long is the typical commute in Sioux Falls?

Average one-way commute time is about 17 minutes, with Walk Score near 35/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.

17 minutes average one-way
Walk Score 35/100

Is Sioux Falls safer than similar U.S. cities?

Published violent-offense rates are about 483.2 per 100k and property about 3045.3 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 586.6 and 3087.9. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.

Violent 483.2 per 100k
Property 3045.3 per 100k

What is the climate like year-round in Sioux Falls?

Normals show summer highs near 83°F, winter lows near 12°F, about 27.8 inches of rain, and roughly 261 sunny days a year.

Summer high 83°F
Winter low 12°F
27.8 in rain · 261 sunny days

Compare Sioux Falls to another city Find cities like Sioux Falls

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 1.9% 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 209,289 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) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
BLS: BLS LAUS · Minnehaha County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00014944 SIOUX FALLS) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024

Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10

Canonical profile · All South Dakota cities · Full city index