Sioux Falls receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Lincoln
Sioux Falls
Opportunity
83 · Top 4%
vs79 · Top 8%
Growth
60 · Top 34%
vs75 · Top 6%
Climate
57 · Bottom 9%
vs55 · Bottom 5%
Physical resilience
75 · Top 23%
vs83 · Top 14%
Housing affordability
92 · Top 5%
vs90 · Top 8%
Access
95 · Bottom 30%
vs95 · Bottom 30%
Economic stability
64 · Top 17%
vs72 · Top 6%
Measured values
| Metric | Lincoln | Sioux Falls | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 294,856 | 201,469 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $71,867 | $75,970 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $39,672 | $44,604 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,916/sq mi | 2,411/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $264,000 | $292,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,086 | $1,035 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 56.1% | 59.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% | 2.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | -0.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.8% | 38.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 9.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,911 | 2,159 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.5 | 10.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -12.2% | 3.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 89°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 14°F | 9°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 29.3" | 27.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 5 mi | 3 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.1 min | 18.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.4 | 35.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Lincoln
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hail, tornado.
Sioux Falls
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Lincoln
75
Your Score
76
Area Score
Sioux Falls
78
Your Score
79
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Lincoln, NE · Sioux Falls, SD · How this is calculated: methodology