Which city is safer, Sioux Falls or Nashville?

Sioux Falls is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 93 versus 140 in Nashville — 34% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Sioux Falls or Nashville?

School composites are close: A- in Sioux Falls and A- in Nashville. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Sioux Falls, SD vs Nashville, TN

Sioux Falls, SD versus Nashville, TN is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,156 a month in Sioux Falls and $1,730 in Nashville, and median household income lands at $71,785 versus $71,328. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Sioux Falls takes affordability, job market, safety, and weather. The widest gap is crime index, where Sioux Falls leads by 34% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Sioux Falls can feel further apart than Sioux Falls and Nashville do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Sioux Falls and Nashville reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Sioux Falls report Full Nashville report

Sioux Falls, SD

Rent: $1,156/mo
Median income: $71,785
Crime index: 93
Schools: A-
Weather: 73°F

Nashville, TN

Rent: $1,730/mo
Median income: $71,328
Crime index: 140
Schools: A-
Weather: 79°F

Rent

33% cheaper

Sioux Falls rent is 33% cheaper than Nashville

Sioux Falls

Winner

$1,156/mo

Nashville

$1,730/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,156 a month in Sioux Falls versus $1,730 in Nashville, so Sioux Falls is 33% cheaper. That's roughly $574/month back in your pocket — $6,888/year. Over five years that's $34,440 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Nashville, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Sioux Falls is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

1% higher

Sioux Falls's median income is 1% higher than Nashville

Sioux Falls

Winner

$71,785

Nashville

$71,328

What this means for your life

Median household income is $71,785 in Sioux Falls versus $71,328 in Nashville, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Sioux Falls — about $457 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

34% lower crime

Sioux Falls's crime index is 34% lower than Nashville

Sioux Falls

Winner

93 (100 = avg)

Nashville

140 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Sioux Falls's crime index is 93 versus 140 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 34% lower in Sioux Falls. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Sioux Falls is the easier city. Nashville can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Sioux Falls and Nashville are about even on school scores.

Sioux Falls

A- · 84/100

Nashville

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Sioux Falls, A- in Nashville). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

19% more comfortable

Sioux Falls weather is 19% more comfortable than Nashville

Sioux Falls

Winner

73°F typical

Nashville

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Sioux Falls scores 19% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 73°F in Sioux Falls and 79°F in Nashville. Sioux Falls reads as warm weather most of the year; Nashville reads as warm weather most of the year. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Sioux Falls is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Nashville can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Sioux Falls

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

Sioux Falls is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 33% cheaper here at about $1,156 a month. Choose Sioux Falls if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 1% higher ($71,785), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 73°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Sioux Falls is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 34% lower than Nashville (93 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Sioux Falls report →

Fit check

Who should choose Nashville

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Nashville

On these five categories Sioux Falls takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Nashville because the stats are kinder — they are not. Choose Nashville only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.

Open the Nashville report →

Bottom line

Sioux Falls vs Nashville, called

If safety is your priority, Sioux Falls is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Sioux Falls pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Sioux Falls offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Sioux Falls vs Nashville FAQ

Is Sioux Falls cheaper than Nashville?: Yes. Typical rent in Sioux Falls is $1,156 a month versus $1,730 in Nashville — 33% cheaper. Median household income is $71,785 in Sioux Falls compared with $71,328 in Nashville, so Sioux Falls has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Sioux Falls or Nashville?: Sioux Falls is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 93 versus 140 in Nashville — 34% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Sioux Falls or Nashville?: School composites are close: A- in Sioux Falls and A- in Nashville. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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