CityCompare

Salt Lake City UT vs Sioux Falls SD — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Salt Lake City, UT

Utah · Population: 203,888

  • Median HH Income$74,925
  • Median Home Price$580,126
  • Unemployment3.8%
  • Bachelor's+50.9%

Sioux Falls, SD

South Dakota · Population: N/A

  • Median HH IncomeN/A
  • Median Home Price$333,043
  • UnemploymentN/A
  • Bachelor's+N/A

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Salt Lake City
203,888
Sioux Falls
N/A
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Salt Lake City
N/A
Sioux Falls
N/A
Median Age
Salt Lake City
33.0
Sioux Falls
N/A
Foreign Born
Salt Lake City
15.4%
Sioux Falls
N/A
White
Salt Lake City
70.5%
Sioux Falls
N/A
Black
Salt Lake City
2.7%
Sioux Falls
N/A
Asian
Salt Lake City
5.3%
Sioux Falls
N/A
Hispanic
Salt Lake City
20.8%
Sioux Falls
N/A
Spanish at Home
Salt Lake City
N/A
Sioux Falls
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Salt Lake City
$74,925
Sioux Falls
N/A
Per Capita Income
Salt Lake City
$49,642
Sioux Falls
N/A
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Salt Lake City
$60,713
Sioux Falls
$69,795
Sioux Falls +
Unemployment Rate
Salt Lake City
3.8%
Sioux Falls
N/A
Poverty Rate
Salt Lake City
13.4%
Sioux Falls
N/A
Bachelor's Degree+
Salt Lake City
50.9%
Sioux Falls
N/A

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Salt Lake City
$580,126
Sioux Falls
$333,043
Sioux Falls +
Homeownership Rate
Salt Lake City
46.8%
Sioux Falls
N/A

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Salt Lake City
245
Salt Lake City +
Sioux Falls
405
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Salt Lake City
1931
Sioux Falls
1873
Sioux Falls +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Salt Lake City
29.5%
Salt Lake City +
Sioux Falls
36.9%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Salt Lake City
7.9%
Salt Lake City +
Sioux Falls
10.5%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Salt Lake City
18.2%
Sioux Falls
15.7%
Sioux Falls +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Salt Lake City
12.3%
Sioux Falls
8.9%
Sioux Falls +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Salt Lake City
16.0%
Salt Lake City +
Sioux Falls
19.8%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Salt Lake City
7.9%
Salt Lake City +
Sioux Falls
13.9%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Salt Lake City
52.8°F
Sioux Falls
45.0°F
Sioux Falls +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Salt Lake City
16.1 in
Salt Lake City +
Sioux Falls
27.7 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Salt Lake City
7.0 µg/m³
Salt Lake City +
Sioux Falls
7.3 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Salt Lake City
75.0%
Sioux Falls
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Salt Lake City
21.3 min
Sioux Falls
N/A

Which City is Right for You?

Sioux Falls offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $333,043. On public safety, Salt Lake City is safer with a violent crime rate of 245 per 100,000 residents, compared to 405 in Sioux Falls. Salt Lake City has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.0 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Salt Lake City scores better with a lower obesity rate of 29.5%.

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About Salt Lake City & Sioux Falls

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