City Comparison
Pierre vs Aberdeen
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Pierre scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Pierre
Aberdeen
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Pierre is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
21% lower than in Aberdeen.
Housing costs are a major driver: Pierre's average rent is
24% lower than Aberdeen's.
| Metric | Pierre | Aberdeen | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $950 | $1,250 | -24% |
| Groceries | $380 | $388 | -2% |
| Utilities | $175 | $288 | -39% |
| Transport | $110 | $80 | +38% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $305 | -28% |
| Monthly Total | $1,835 | $2,311 | -21% |
| Cost Index | 92 | 82 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Pierre offers 49% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Pierre delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Pierre is estimated at
$48,000 vs $50,000 in Aberdeen.
| Metric | Pierre | Aberdeen |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $58,000 | $38,861 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $50,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 63,043 idx | 47,391 idx |
| Household Income | $67,000 | $64,405 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Pierre runs warmer on average — a 50.3°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Pierre comes out ahead with 286 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Pierre sees 16.5 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Pierre | Aberdeen |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.30°F | °F |
| Summer High | 83.50°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 12.90°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 27.10 in | in |
| Snowfall | 16.50 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 286 | |
| Humidity | 62.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Pierre scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Pierre leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Pierre | Aberdeen |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 12 min | 11 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 20.0/100 |
| Walkability | 52.0/100 | 39.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 22.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Aberdeen is the larger city
— approximately 0.5x the population of Pierre.
From a growth perspective, Aberdeen is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Aberdeen has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Pierre | Aberdeen |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,000 | 28,376 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.40% | 0.97% |
| Median Age | 40.0 | 36.4 |
| Unemployment | 2.80% | 1.70% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Pierre
Advantages
State capital status provides exceptionally stable public sector and government employment opportunities.
Crime rates in Pierre are significantly lower than the national average, ensuring high community safety.
World-class hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation are available directly along the Missouri River and Lake Oahe.
Housing affordability remains favorable compared to the national average and major coastal metropolitan markets.
Minimal traffic congestion leads to exceptionally short and stress-free daily commute times.
Drawbacks
Geographic isolation from major metropolitan hubs can limit specialized shopping and entertainment choices.
Extreme winter weather conditions with cold temperatures and snowfall require careful preparation.
Limited public transportation infrastructure makes personal vehicle ownership essentially mandatory.
Commercial flight options at the local airport can be limited and more expensive than larger regional hubs.
Limited local industry diversification outside of government, healthcare, and retail sectors.
Aberdeen
Advantages
Aberdeen boasts a significantly low unemployment rate of 1.7% in 2026, well below the national average, indicating a robust job market.
The cost of living in Aberdeen is 18% less expensive than the national average, particularly in housing, making it highly affordable.
Residents enjoy a remarkably short average commute time of 11 minutes, significantly reducing daily travel stress.
Aberdeen serves as a regional healthcare hub with three hospitals and a wide range of medical specialties, ensuring quality healthcare access.
The city has a high livability score of 80 out of 100, reflecting a good quality of life with ample amenities and a strong community feel.
Drawbacks
Crime data for Aberdeen is conflicting, with some sources indicating a higher violent crime rate than the average U.S. city and a lower safety percentile.
Public transportation options are limited to a demand-response bus service, with very low utilization among workers, leading to high car dependency.
Aberdeen experiences very cold, snowy, and windy winters with average low temperatures reaching 6°F in January.
Despite some positive projections, population growth rates are inconsistent across sources, with some indicating stagnation or decline in recent years.
The average rent in Aberdeen has seen a significant increase of 52.9% in the past year, potentially impacting affordability for new renters.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Pierre
#97South Dakota, USA
67.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$58,000
Cost Index
92
Commute
12 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
286/yr
Avg Temp
50.30°F
Pop. Growth
0.40%
Unemployment
2.80%
Livability
78
Business
68
Aberdeen
#355South Dakota, USA
59.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,250
Avg Salary
$38,861
Cost Index
82
Commute
11 min
Transit Score
20.0/100
Walkability
39.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.97%
Unemployment
1.70%
Livability
80
Business
65
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