Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Sioux Falls to Chicago
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Sioux Falls has a lower median gross rent ($1,035) and home value ($292,292,400) than Chicago ($1,440 rent, $334,100 value), but Chicago reports a slightly higher median household income ($77,902 vs. $75,970). Sioux Falls’ derived one-way commute is 18 minutes, half of Chicago’s 36 minutes. While Chicago applies a modeled 4.95% state individual income tax in the calculator, Sioux Falls excludes state tax due to lack of approved reference. The uniform non-housing baseline of $1,250/month is a shared model assumption. Trade-offs involve housing affordability, income, commute time, and tax treatment—no universal winner is declared.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Chicago → Sioux FallsMoving from Sioux Falls to Chicago
Median Rent Impact
+$405/mo
Moving to Chicago costs ~$4,860 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.0%
~$4,950 more state tax on a $100k salary in Illinois.
Daily Commute Difference
+18 min / day
Difference of ~150 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
Adjust the assumptions. Every result updates instantly.
Search all 32,330 U.S. Census places directly below.Instant results use official 2024 ACS place data. Places with incomplete required signals remain visible in search but cannot be selected.
Directional estimate using ACS citywide benchmarks. Verified profiles may include a simplified state-tax reference; automatically added profiles exclude state tax until an official reference is approved. Exact tax, benefits, debt, housing, insurance, and personal circumstances may materially change the result.
LIVE VERDICTSIO → CHI
41/ 100
The offer needs work
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$1,980after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainMedian rent is 22% of median income, below common affordability benchmarks.
Watch closelyLower rent burden may reflect older housing stock or income distribution, not necessarily lower housing quality or availability.
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Sioux Falls is about $4,860 lower per year. This is not a verdict by itself: replace city medians with the actual offer, address, household, benefits, insurance, and tax details before deciding.
Sioux Falls household income$75,970
Chicago household income$77,902
Sioux Falls gross rent$1,035
Chicago gross rent$1,440
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Sioux Falls | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 201,469 | 2,711,226 |
| Median household income | $75,970 | $77,902 |
| Median gross rent | $1,035 | $1,440 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $292,400 | $334,100 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 4.95% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 18 minutes in Sioux Falls and 36 minutes in Chicago. This citywide estimate cannot capture a specific route, remote-work schedule, or transit choice, so the calculator converts it into an explicit time difference instead of hiding it in a subjective lifestyle score.
Decision checklist
- Median gross rent and home value
- Median household income level
- Derived one-way commute time estimate
- State individual income tax treatment in model
What each city wins
Sioux Falls
Rent-to-income ratio is favorable at 16.3%.. Watch affordability varies by neighborhood; citywide data masks local disparities..
Chicago
Median rent is 22% of median income, below common affordability benchmarks.. Watch lower rent burden may reflect older housing stock or income distribution, not necessarily lower housing quality or availability..
Frequently asked questions
Which city has lower housing costs according to 2024 ACS data?
Sioux Falls has lower median gross rent at $1,035 per month and lower median home value at $292,400 compared to Chicago’s $1,440 rent and $334,100 home value, based on 2024 ACS 5-year estimates.
How do commute times compare between the two cities?
Sioux Falls has a derived one-way commute estimate of 18 minutes, while Chicago’s is 36 minutes—double the time—based on weighted midpoints from the 2024 ACS table B08303.
Source boundary: Core figures come from the 2024 ACS five-year tables linked on each city profile. Commute is derived from B08303 midpoint weighting. A state-tax value without an approved official reference is excluded and disclosed. This comparison becomes index-eligible only after its unique analysis clears the content quality gate.