Sioux Falls has a lot to be proud of, and now a national magazine is recognizing our city in a major new study.

A new list of the "15 Best Medium-Sized Cities to Live in the U.S. in 2025-2026" from U.S. News & World Report. Well, guess what? Sioux Falls made this list! There's even a town in Iowa that earned a spot.

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Experts from U.S. News & World Report evaluated data related to the desirability, quality of life, job market, and value of 859 U.S. cities. This includes crime rates, cost of living, job market, net migration, climate, quality of education, and more." Unlike bigger metropolitan cities, medium-sized cities offer more career opportunities and an overall better quality of life.

If you’re looking for career opportunities, cultural amenities and a high quality of life without the sky-high cost of living, these medium-sized cities deliver.

Cities that landed on the 15 Best Medium-Sized Cities to Live in the U.S. in 2025-2026 range in population from 100,000 and 499,000 residents.

So, where does Sioux Falls land on the Best Medium-Sized Cities List?

Sioux Falls is considered to be the...12th on the 15 Best Medium-Sized Cities to Live in the U.S. in 2025-2026 from U.S. News & World Report!

Sioux Falls State Theatre (via Facebook), Christine Manika (TSM), Canva
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Experts from U.S. News & World Report say that Sioux Falls is the place to be for entrepreneurs.

 Its job market ranks in the top 5% and falls within the top 10% of all cities for net migration. Unemployment in Sioux Falls is 1.7%, which is well below the national average of 4.5%. The city also ranked in the top 12% of all cities in terms of housing affordability.

What about the city in Iowa?

We didn't forget Iowa! The city of Cedar Rapids made the list, sitting at the #15 spot.  Why Cedar Rapids? U.S. News & World Report highlights them as one of the top corn-producing cities in the world!

Check out the Best Medium-Size and overall national rankings here.

Way to go, Sioux Falls!

Gone But Not Forgotten - Iconic Sioux Falls: Whiffer's Sandwiches

The Merriam-Webster definition of iconic is "widely recognized and well-established." That would definitely describe Whiffer's Sandwiches which used to call North Minnesota Avenue home.

The gone but not forgotten sandwich shop was located in an old house at 1133 North Minnesota Avenue. It served sandwiches to Sioux Falls from November 1978 until the summer of 2020. 


Gallery Credit: Karla Brown

32 Things to Do in Sioux Falls This Summer That Are Absolutely Free!

Sure, there are tons of things to do in the Sioux Empire every summer, but if your entertainment budget is small (or zero), we have the solution - actually, we have lots of solutions.

Here is a list of family-friendly (and some, just adult-friendly) events happening this summer in the Sioux Falls area that you should check out. Oh, the best part, everything on this list is FREE.

Gallery Credit: Karla Brown

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