Sioux Falls Ranks Among Best Cities to Raise a Family

Sioux Falls: A Top Choice for Families

Once again this year, Sioux Falls has made it onto the list of Best Cities to Raise A Family, according to the research group Wallet Hub.

There are a lot of things people consider when they're looking for a place to settle down and raise a family. One of the top considerations is an affordable cost of living. People also want great educational opportunities for their kids, a safe community, and, in many cases, they want to live close to extended family.

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In order to determine the best cities for family life, Wallet Hub compared 182 cities across 5 categories:

• Family fun - playgrounds, ice rinks, skate parks, bike rentals, and mini-golf rentals per capita, weather, average commute times, and share of families with young children
• Health & Safety - Air & water quality, access to healthy foods, pediatricians per capita, share of uninsured children, public hospital rankings, violent & property crime rate, infant mortality rates, and driving fatalities per capita.
• Education & Child Care - School system quality, child care costs, parental leave policy, and summer learning opportunities.
• Affordability - Cost of living and housing affordability.
• Socio-economics - Share of two-parent families, separation & divorce rate, share of families living in poverty, unemployment rate, wealth gap, and foreclosure rate.

A Thriving Economy for Working Parents

Sioux Falls has a diverse economy with opportunities in healthcare, finance, manufacturing, technology, and construction. Low unemployment and steady growth make it attractive for working parents.

While the city continues to grow, it still maintains a friendly, community-centered atmosphere that many families find appealing. There are plenty of activities to entertain kids, like the Great Plains Zoo, Butterfly House & Aquarium, Outdoor Campus, Washington Pavilion, and many more, not to mention the Sioux Falls Park System.

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Even with recent growth, Sioux Falls is still relatively easy to navigate. Many people can get across town in 20 minutes or less, leaving more time for family life.

For many people, Sioux Falls hits a “sweet spot” — large enough to offer opportunity and entertainment, but small enough to still feel manageable and family-focused.