Performance
Score Breakdown
Sioux Falls
Springfield
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Springfield is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
23% higher compared to Sioux Falls.
Housing costs are a major driver: Sioux Falls's average rent is
40% higher than Springfield's.
| Metric | Sioux Falls | Springfield | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,327 | $950 | +40% |
| Groceries | $400 | $400 | 0% |
| Utilities | $248 | $180 | +38% |
| Transport | $120 | $120 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $250 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,345 | $1,900 | +23% |
| Cost Index | 88 | 85 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Sioux Falls offers 22% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Sioux Falls delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Sioux Falls is estimated at
$61,000 vs $33,240 in Springfield.
| Metric | Sioux Falls | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $60,000 | $49,276 |
| Salary Needed | $61,000 | $33,240 |
| Purchasing Power | 68,182 idx | 57,972 idx |
| Household Income | $75,970 | $47,143 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Sioux Falls | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 69.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Sioux Falls has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Springfield.
Sioux Falls scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Sioux Falls leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Sioux Falls | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 18 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 34.0/10 | 13.0/10 |
| Walkability | 38.0/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | 45.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Sioux Falls is the larger city
— approximately 3.9x the population of Springfield.
From a growth perspective, Sioux Falls is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Sioux Falls has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Sioux Falls | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 224,676 | 58,190 |
| Pop. Growth | 2.30% | % |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 37.9 |
| Unemployment | 2.00% | 4.00% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Sioux Falls
Advantages
Violent crime per capita reached a five-year low in 2025, and property crime decreased by 26% from 2024 to 2025.
The cost of living in Sioux Falls is approximately 12.5% lower than the national average, with housing costs being 24.1% cheaper.
Sioux Falls was ranked the third-least-stressed city in America for 2025.
The unemployment rate in Sioux Falls was 2.00% in June 2026, significantly lower than the national average.
Sanford USD Medical Center was ranked the #1 hospital in South Dakota for 2024-2025 and recognized among the World's Best Hospitals.
Drawbacks
Despite overall crime decreases, the city's safety grade was D in 2024, with a violent crime rate of 526.7 per 100K residents.
The city has minimal public transportation options and a low walkability score of 38, indicating high car dependency for most errands.
Healthcare costs are slightly higher than the national average, at 3.9% more.
While overall job growth is strong, the Sioux Falls area gained an average of only 50 jobs per month in 2025, which was the lowest since 2025 (excluding pandemic years).
Average home care costs are high, with in-home support listed at $8,389 per month in 2024.
Springfield
Advantages
Cost of living is approximately 15% below the national average, with housing costs running about 46% below the national norm. [25]
Median rent for a two-bedroom apartment is approximately $920 per month, significantly lower than the national average of $1,430. [25]
The median home value in Springfield is $102,100, which is 64% below the national average. [41]
Springfield has a lower rent-to-income ratio compared to other small metros in Ohio, indicating better rental affordability. [14]
The city is actively working on downtown revitalization, with new residential housing and entertainment venues. [30]
Drawbacks
Springfield has a high crime rate, significantly above both state and national averages, with a concerning trend in violent and property crimes. [9, 26]
The violent crime rate in Springfield is 1371.1 per 100,000 residents, which is substantially higher than the national average. [9]
Springfield has one of the highest crime rates in America, with a chance of becoming a victim of crime being one in 17. [26]
The city's walkability score is very low, indicating a high dependency on cars for transportation. [22, 38]
The median household income of $47,143 is below the national average, and the poverty rate is 23.1%, higher than the national average. [3, 39]
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Sioux Falls
#6South Dakota, USA
78.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,327
Avg Salary
$60,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
34.0/10
Walkability
38.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
2.30%
Unemployment
2.00%
Livability
82
Business
80
Springfield
#117Ohio, USA
65.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$49,276
Cost Index
85
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
13.0/10
Walkability
6.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.00%
Livability
70
Business
60
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