Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Sioux Falls to Phoenix
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Phoenix has higher median household income ($81,332 vs $75,970) and higher median home value ($420,700 vs $292,400) than Sioux Falls, but also higher median gross rent ($1,582 vs $1,035) and longer commute (28 vs 18 minutes). Phoenix applies a 2.50% state income tax in the calculator model, while Sioux Falls excludes state tax due to lack of approved reference. The uniform non-housing baseline of $1,250/month is a model assumption for both. These factors create a trade-off: Phoenix offers greater income and home equity potential but at higher housing costs, longer commutes, and modeled tax exposure, whereas Sioux Falls provides lower housing burdens and shorter commutes with moderate income and no modeled state tax in this profile.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Phoenix → Sioux FallsMoving from Sioux Falls to Phoenix
Median Rent Impact
+$547/mo
Moving to Phoenix costs ~$6,564 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+2.5%
~$2,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in Arizona.
Daily Commute Difference
+10 min / day
Difference of ~83 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 → PHX
46/ 100
The offer needs work
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$3,020after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainA balanced income-to-rent profile with a low flat state-tax reference
Watch closelyThe $420,700 home-value benchmark is materially above Dallas despite similar commute time
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Sioux Falls is about $6,564 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
Phoenix household income$81,332
Sioux Falls gross rent$1,035
Phoenix gross rent$1,582
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Sioux Falls | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 201,469 | 1,642,323 |
| Median household income | $75,970 | $81,332 |
| Median gross rent | $1,035 | $1,582 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $292,400 | $420,700 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 2.5% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 18 minutes in Sioux Falls and 28 minutes in Phoenix. 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 household income
- Median gross rent
- Median owner-occupied home value
- One-way commute time
- State income tax treatment in model
- Uniform non-housing cost baseline
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..
Phoenix
A balanced income-to-rent profile with a low flat state-tax reference. Watch the $420,700 home-value benchmark is materially above dallas despite similar commute time.
Frequently asked questions
How do housing costs compare between the two cities relative to income?
Phoenix has higher median gross rent ($1,582) and home value ($420,700) than Sioux Falls ($1,035 rent, $292,400 home value), but also higher median income ($81,332 vs $75,970), resulting in a higher cost-to-income ratio for housing in Phoenix despite greater earnings.
What is the trade-off between commute time and income when comparing these cities?
Phoenix residents earn about $5,362 more annually on average but face a 10-minute longer one-way commute (28 vs 18 minutes), suggesting a trade-off where higher income is offset by increased travel time, while Sioux Falls offers shorter commutes with moderately lower income.
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.