Sioux City and Rochester receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Sioux City | Rochester | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 144,682 | 228,522 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $75,192 | $91,882 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,232 | $50,884 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 91/sq mi | 92/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $193,100 | $306,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,002 | $1,276 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.3% | 74.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 3.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.6% | -2.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.6% | 43.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 7.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 467 | 1,495 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.2 | 6.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 37.4% | 86.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 80°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 10°F | 7°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 29.3" | 34.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 8 mi | 9 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 21.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.2 | 38.9 | 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
Sioux City
Elevated or high exposure: heat wave, strong wind.
Rochester
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, inland flooding.
Your best match
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Full profiles: Sioux City, IA-NE-SD Metro Area · Rochester, MN Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology