City Comparison
Clinton vs Sioux City
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Sioux City scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Clinton
Sioux City
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Clinton is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
7% lower than in Sioux City.
Housing costs are a major driver: Clinton's average rent is
11% lower than Sioux City's.
| Metric | Clinton | Sioux City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $850 | $950 | -11% |
| Groceries | $360 | $380 | -5% |
| Utilities | $165 | $175 | -6% |
| Transport | $110 | $110 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $220 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $1,705 | $1,835 | -7% |
| Cost Index | 82 | 88 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Sioux City offers 4% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Clinton delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Clinton is estimated at
$42,000 vs $45,000 in Sioux City.
| Metric | Clinton | Sioux City |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $54,000 | $56,000 |
| Salary Needed | $42,000 | $45,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 65,854 idx | 63,636 idx |
| Household Income | $53,500 | $62,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.1°F of each other.
For sunshine, Sioux City comes out ahead with 15 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Clinton sees 0.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Clinton | Sioux City |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 51.50°F | 51.40°F |
| Summer High | 81.20°F | 83.00°F |
| Winter Low | 15.80°F | 13.80°F |
| Rainfall | 31.30 in | 31.50 in |
| Snowfall | 22.80 in | 21.90 in |
| Sunny Days | 265 | 280 |
| Humidity | 70.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Sioux City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
| Metric | Clinton | Sioux City |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 18 min | 17 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 25.00 | 35.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Sioux City is the larger city
— approximately 0.3x the population of Clinton.
From a growth perspective, Sioux City is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Sioux City has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Clinton | Sioux City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 24,469 | 85,797 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 42.1 | 35.5 |
| Unemployment | 4.50% | 3.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Clinton
Advantages
Median home prices in Clinton are drastically lower than the national average per Zillow data.
Average commute times are under 20 minutes, allowing for minimal daily transit stress.
Abundant access to Mississippi River recreation, parks, and outdoor trails.
Strong local manufacturing and industrial employment base offering stable jobs.
Low cost of living index that stretches retirement and family budgets effectively.
Drawbacks
Limited high-tech and corporate remote work professional infrastructure.
Cold, snowy winter conditions typical of eastern Iowa can be harsh.
Limited public transit options require heavy reliance on personal vehicles.
Slower population growth compared to major U.S. metropolitan areas.
Fewer high-end dining and major entertainment venues within city limits.
Sioux City
Advantages
Median home prices in Sioux City are significantly lower than the national average per the U.S. Census Bureau.
Average commute times are under 18 minutes, well below the U.S. national average per BLS data.
A thriving healthcare sector anchored by MercyOne and UnityPoint Health provides robust medical services.
Abundant outdoor recreation including over 50 public parks and extensive Missouri River trail systems.
Strong local higher education institutions like Morningside University and Briar Cliff University.
Drawbacks
Winter temperatures can be harsh, with average winter lows dropping to 13.8°F per Open-Meteo climate data.
Limited public transit options require high car dependency for daily commuting and errands.
Average household incomes trail behind top-tier national metropolitan benchmarks.
Limited direct commercial air travel options at Sioux Gateway Airport necessitate driving to larger hubs like Omaha.
Pockets of the urban core face ongoing economic revitalization and property crime challenges.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Clinton
#291Iowa, USA
61.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$850
Avg Salary
$54,000
Cost Index
82
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
265/yr
Avg Temp
51.50°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
70
Business
62
Sioux City
#173Iowa, USA
64.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$56,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
17 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
280/yr
Avg Temp
51.40°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
75
Business
70
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Clinton and Sioux City.
Open Cost Calculator