Places › South Dakota › Sioux Falls

Living in Sioux Falls, SD

Mid-size city in South Dakota

Sioux Falls is a mid-size city in South Dakota, home to about 198,000 people, with 266,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, most trips are by car. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.

Is Sioux Falls a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Strong healthcare: 4 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $302k and rents for $1,590 a month
  • Mild summers: highs around 82°F
  • Low taxes: no state income tax, 1.18% property tax

👎 Cons

  • Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
  • Smaller job market: about 266,000 people live within 31 mi
  • Fewer graduates: 37% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Sioux Falls ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
198,000
266,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
29°F / 82°F
Average daily highs · 45″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$302k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,590/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
91
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
No income tax
State income tax per resident · 1.18% property tax
Safety
1.3× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
8 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly tornadoes, flooding
Top-rated hospitals
4
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
37%
No research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
OMA
160 mi away

Living in Sioux Falls: common questions

What is the cost of living in Sioux Falls?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $302k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,590 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 91, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Sioux Falls?

South Dakota has no state income tax, and homeowners here pay about 1.18% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Sioux Falls safe?

Violent crime is somewhat above the national rate (1.3× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Sioux Falls?

Sioux Falls has long, snowy winters: winter days average around 29°F and summer days around 82°F, with roughly 45″ of snow a year.

Does Sioux Falls get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from tornadoes, flooding and cold waves: 8 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.98 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Sioux Falls?

The nearest major airport is OMA, about 160 mi away.

How Sioux Falls scores

Each bar compares Sioux Falls with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Small city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Urban & suburban mix Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Mostly car Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Strong culture scene Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Long, snowy winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Affordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Relaxed Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Private AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Apartments & houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Excellent
💸Low taxes Good
💼Job market Poor
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Below average
🧸Kids & family Below average
🐕Dog-friendly Average
⛰️Outdoors Poor
🎭Culture Below average
🛡️Safety Moderate crime
🌪️Few natural disasters Good
☀️Sunny Average
🌤️Mild summers Excellent
✈️Airport Average

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Is Sioux Falls right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.