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Living in
Sioux Falls.
About
Life in Sioux Falls
Living here means embracing a city that's genuinely affordable while experiencing rapid growth—the population has jumped 11.6% in recent years, and housing remains accessible with median home values around $292,400 and rents under $1,000 a month, though that affordability is shifting as the metro area (now over 300,000 people) continues expanding. The job market is legitimately strong, fueled by financial services giants like Wells Fargo and Citigroup who set up shop because of South Dakota's lack of corporate income tax, alongside food processing and manufacturing sectors, which translates to a 2.0% unemployment rate and a manageable 17-minute average commute. Summers are hot and humid with frequent thunderstorms, while winters are genuinely cold with around 45 inches of snow annually and 25 days where temperatures dip below zero, so you need to actually want four seasons and be okay with subzero January mornings.
Sioux Falls at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.6%
Foreign-Born
8.7%
Broadband Internet
93.4%
of households
Population Growth
+10.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.7% foreign-born, most often from Ethiopia
Who lives in Sioux Falls: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Sioux Falls, the largest foreign-born group is from Ethiopia (10.7%), and 4.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.4%
of residents
65 and Older
14.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.1%
of households
Married Couples
42.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.28
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 9% above SD average
Rent, home values, and income in Sioux Falls
In Sioux Falls, rent runs 9% above the SD average, and home values are 14% above the SD average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
39.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
90.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,389
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
59.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1993
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $330,625 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for SD
Unemployment in Sioux Falls and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Sioux Falls is close to the SD average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Sioux Falls Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Sioux Falls, SD metro area
Commute17 min avg
How Sioux Falls residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Sioux Falls, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 90% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD)
Small hub742k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 11% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Sioux Falls runs 11% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
364
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,197.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Sioux Falls Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 37 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
89.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Minnehaha County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Minnehaha County, which includes Sioux Falls, the most common type is winter weather, with 37 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 27 | Winter Weather | $939,000 |
| 2023 | 34 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2022 | 35 | Hail | $20,000 |
| 2021 | 26 | Drought | $1.1M |
| 2020 | 25 | Winter Weather | $5,000 |
| 2019 | 48 | Flood | $11.4M |
| 2018 | 52 | Winter Weather | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Minnehaha County, county-wide
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Minnehaha County, which includes Sioux Falls, is typically good — 294 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
294
per year
Moderate Days
66
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Minnehaha County, county-wide
Climate82°F summers, 10°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Sioux Falls has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and very cold winters (avg low 10°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/38°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
29°/10°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
28.3"
Annual Snowfall
45.3"
Hot Days/Year
19
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
154
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
104
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 25°F | 7°F | 0.66" |
| Feb | 30°F | 11°F | 0.80" |
| Mar | 43°F | 23°F | 1.47" |
| Apr | 57°F | 36°F | 3.03" |
| May | 70°F | 49°F | 3.74" |
| Jun | 80°F | 59°F | 4.59" |
| Jul | 85°F | 64°F | 3.31" |
| Aug | 82°F | 61°F | 3.34" |
| Sep | 75°F | 52°F | 3.04" |
| Oct | 61°F | 38°F | 2.29" |
| Nov | 44°F | 24°F | 1.19" |
| Dec | 30°F | 13°F | 0.84" |
Healthcare6 hospitals, avg 4.8/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls has 6 hospitals, averaging 4.8 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
6
within city limits
Uninsured
8.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.8 / 5
Sanford Usd Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Sioux Falls VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
Avera Heart Hospital of South Dakota
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Avera Mckennan Hospital & University Health Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls's student/teacher ratio is 15.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 38.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
60
within city limits
Private Schools
14
within city limits
College Degree Rate
38.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Sioux Falls
Public · 2-year · 2,310 students · in-state tuition $8,365 · 61% graduate · median earnings $51,280 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,965 students · in-state tuition $41,768 · 75% graduate · median earnings $61,271 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,218 students · in-state tuition $22,900 · 64% graduate · median earnings $59,404 (10 yrs after entry)
California Intercontinental University
Private for-profit · 2-year · 151 students · 25% graduate
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pipestone National Monument, 38 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pipestone National Monument (38 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pipestone National Monument
National Monument
38 mi awayMissouri National Recreational River
National Recreational River
68 mi awayPublic Libraries in Sioux Falls
Siouxland Libraries
200 North Dakota Ave., Sioux Falls
Caille Branch-Siouxland Libraries
4100 Carnegie Circle, Sioux Falls
Oak View Branch-Siouxland Libraries
3700 E Third St, Sioux Falls
Prairie West Branch-Siouxland Libraries
7630 W 26th Street, Sioux Falls
Ronning Branch-Siouxland Libraries
3100 E 49th St, Sioux Falls
Cities Near Sioux Falls
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Sioux Falls?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Sioux Falls FAQ
Is Sioux Falls, South Dakota affordable?⌄
Sioux Falls's median rent is $1,035/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $75,970/year. Median home value is $292,400.
Is Sioux Falls, South Dakota safe?⌄
Sioux Falls's violent crime rate was 364 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2198 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Sioux Falls, South Dakota?⌄
Sioux Falls has an unemployment rate of 2.0%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota?⌄
The cost of living in Sioux Falls is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,035/month and median household income is $75,970/year. The median home value is $292,400. About 40% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Sioux Falls, South Dakota?⌄
The average commute in Sioux Falls is 17 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from