City Comparison
Sioux City vs Binghamton
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Sioux City scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Sioux City
Binghamton
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Sioux City is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
19% lower than in Binghamton.
Housing costs are a major driver: Sioux City's average rent is
17% lower than Binghamton's.
| Metric | Sioux City | Binghamton | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $950 | $1,138 | -17% |
| Groceries | $380 | $404 | -6% |
| Utilities | $175 | $194 | -10% |
| Transport | $110 | $312 | -65% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $226 | -3% |
| Monthly Total | $1,835 | $2,274 | -19% |
| Cost Index | 88 | 110 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Sioux City offers 2% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Sioux City delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Sioux City is estimated at
$45,000 vs $45,000 in Binghamton.
| Metric | Sioux City | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $56,000 | $55,000 |
| Salary Needed | $45,000 | $45,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 63,636 idx | 50,000 idx |
| Household Income | $62,500 | $45,578 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Sioux City runs warmer on average — a 51.4°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Sioux City comes out ahead with 280 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Sioux City sees 21.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Sioux City | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 51.40°F | °F |
| Summer High | 83.00°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 13.80°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 31.50 in | in |
| Snowfall | 21.90 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 280 | |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 70.00% |
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.
For walkability, Binghamton leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Sioux City | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 17 min | 16 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 33.0/100 |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | 55.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 35.00 | 30.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Sioux City is the larger city
— approximately 1.8x the population of Binghamton.
From a growth perspective, Binghamton 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 | Sioux City | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 85,797 | 46,773 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 35.9 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 4.30% |
| GDP | — | $13.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
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.
Binghamton
Advantages
The average commute time in Binghamton is relatively short at 16 minutes, offering more personal time.
Housing costs are generally lower than the national average, with a median home price of $194,000 as of December 2025.
The presence of Binghamton University provides a vibrant cultural scene and educational opportunities.
The city's economy is diversifying with growth in healthcare, education, and advanced manufacturing sectors.
Binghamton offers access to natural landscapes and outdoor recreational activities due to its river confluence and surrounding hills.
Drawbacks
Binghamton has a high crime rate, with total crime being 86% higher than the national average based on 2024 FBI data.
The unemployment rate in Binghamton was 4.3% in 2026, slightly higher than the national average.
Public transportation options are limited, as indicated by a Transit Score of 33 for Downtown Binghamton.
Despite some positive economic indicators, the Binghamton metro area experienced a 2.8% population decrease over a 10-year period leading up to 2024.
Drug-related crime remains a significant concern in the Binghamton area, despite a decrease in overdose rates.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
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
Binghamton
#603New York, USA
38.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,138
Avg Salary
$55,000
Cost Index
110
Commute
16 min
Transit Score
33.0/100
Walkability
55.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
68
Business
60
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