Not only does Sioux Falls have access to everything from skiing and snowboarding to biking and fishing, but you’re pretty much guaranteed to have a good view while doing it. Particularly for a midwest city, the variety of outdoor options will likely surprise you. The beautiful Big Sioux River snakes throughout the city, with parks and trails sprinkled throughout. Outdoor options are available in the Sioux Falls area regardless of the season.

About those seasons… Winters are frigid, with temperature drops into single digits and ~40 inches of snowfall per year. Summers can be brutal on the other end of the spectrum, and if you think you’ve driven far enough west to escape the Midwest humidity, think again. Severe rain, high winds, and tornadoes are also unfortunately common in the area. While most small midwestern cities usually aren’t too far away from bigger metro areas, that’s not the case with Sioux Falls, which is more than 150 miles from the nearest big city. 




The Great Outdoors

LookyLOO Review of Sioux Falls?

The culture in Sioux Falls is family-friendly with a small-town atmosphere. That atmosphere, unfortunately, might further stem from the fact that Sioux Falls falls short of many U.S. cities in terms of urban amenities. Like many small midwestern cities, residents are generally regarded as polite, reserved, and politically moderate. It’s a gorgeous place to live and make friends, and the issue that young people and families alike will have with Sioux Falls probably won’t stem from the people, but the lack of things to do with them in the area outside of its solid restaurant scene.

We highly recommend visiting Sioux Falls and staying in the community in a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our [partnership with Expedia](expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ) as well.

Lifestyle

A healthcare island in the middle of what most people think of as a flyover state, Sioux Falls is home to Avera Health and Sanford Health among other big players in that industry. Sioux Falls provides residents with great medical care and a plethora of job opportunities to go along with it. Speaking of job opportunities, the overall job market in the city is rock solid, with unemployment rates locked under three percent for years. With no income taxes paired with a top ten ranking in some rankings for the hottest job markets in the US, Sioux Falls is a great place to go for your next gig both now and in the foreseeable future. 


Worklife

If you can put up with the weather and lack of big city amenities, the friendly people and budding job market make Sioux Falls an excellent choice to further your career and live with your family (Sioux Falls has some of the best public schools in the state). Just don’t forget to pack a shovel and some salt for melting the snow. 


Friendly People/Great Schools

Why Move Here Now?

**Jackskers94**
10mo ago
🦉🦉🦉

I’m a man who just turned thirty and moved from a similar sized city.

Socially, you get what you put in.

There’s always events going on in the summer downtown. You can look to the chamber, as they will usually have networking and mixer events that are great for meeting people. If you like running, I believe there is a running club you can join through 605 Running Co. I am not sure but I’d assume the cycle shops do something as well. Follow the city social media page, like the Downtown Sioux Falls page, and that will keep you up to date on events going on. And then there are plenty of bars and breweries, but that might not be your thing.

For more reviews of what living in Sioux Falls is like from locals check out: [**The Reviews**](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/sioux-falls/reviews)

Reviews of Sioux Falls from Locals

Sioux Falls ranked #1 in smartasset’s review of the best cities for young professionals due to affordability, labor force participation and concentration of entertainment establishments. What’s not to like? https://smartasset.com/data-studies/best-cities-for-young-professionals-2021. For specific neighborhood recommendations we start with Downtown Sioux Falls. It ain’t Manhattan but it’s faster-paced than the more suburban options and it is filled with great restaurants, boutique shops, cafes and micro-breweries. Pretty much everything is within walking distance but you can also take the Downtown Trolley all around for just $2 a day. 
- Downtown


Young Professionals

Downtown

If you’re looking for an upscale spot check out McKennan Park. One of the oldest neighborhoods in Sioux Falls, it has some of the city's oldest, most historic and beautiful homes.These include smaller craftsman’s and much bigger colonials. These homes also surround the city’s oldest park, which has a performance bandshell, sunken garden and pool for the littlest of beans. Cherry Lake is another ideal location, locals can live lakeside and get to fish, swim and enjoy the beaches during the warm months. 
- McKennan Park
- Cherry Lake
- East Sioux Falls
- West Sioux Falls


Families

McKennan Park

Sioux Falls

**Lazy_Name_2989**
5mo ago
🦉🦉🦉

It's a great place, but with drawbacks.

If you don't drink, hunt, or bowl... your activities get limited. I say this even though I ski Great Bear as a pass holder and league member, MTB with FAST on the single-tracks, raise two sons, and participate in local government where I can.

The business owners here really really really need to branch out. We have enough bars, Starbucks and McDonald's/BK franchises already.

We NEED diversity and a stronger paying job market. This city has a high poverty level. Daycare costs rise, schools lose funding, and lack of store diversity won't bring market competition. But... those with ability and funds won't take chances and just plop up another place that is just the same ol same ol.

Amazing city that's growing in good ways, but our cost of living isn't in check either. Great, we've built soooo many apartments, but at close to 1k/mo for 1bd on a 15/hr job really doesn't leave much for someone young moving here to support the economy with shopping and entertainment.

Concerts are a joke anymore. Promoters barely pull in artists every year. Hard Rock in Sioux City pulls 3x what ALL venues do here. Guess why? The venues are not willing to operate at a slight margin. Owners want large profit. No chances on losses with a "risky" turnout. So now we get minimal acts and shows.

**Ster-Lerd**
5mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

Lived here for 2.5 years now. Not sure about how SF natives feel, but I haven't run out of stuff to do so far. The parks are nice, decent skating scene, cool art scene too. I've done a few art shows and the people there were super chill.

Fun music shows, though I wish bigger artists would come to town besides country artists. Downtown is great, love the food scene and the shops are awesome.

The internet is decent for gamers (Midco upgraded their internet recently) and there are good options for places to play board games, tabletop players, and fellow comic nerds. If you don't mind a weekend trip, the Badlands are beautiful and Minne and Omaha aren't too far away. As an east coast pizza snob, go to Pizzashop by Empire Mall for authentic NY style slices.

Overall I'm loving it here, and I've been blessed with 2 different jobs that I've liked and payed pretty decently. Biggest complaint is the car culture here. I absolutely love tuners but I don't need to hear "BRRRAP BRRRAP" at 2am. I live on the outskirts of town and still hear it all the time!

**Jackskers94**
10mo ago
🦉🦉🦉

I’m a man who just turned thirty and moved from a similar sized city.

Socially, you get what you put in.

There’s always events going on in the summer downtown. You can look to the chamber, as they will usually have networking and mixer events that are great for meeting people. If you like running, I believe there is a running club you can join through 605 Running Co. I am not sure but I’d assume the cycle shops do something as well. Follow the city social media page, like the Downtown Sioux Falls page, and that will keep you up to date on events going on. And then there are plenty of bars and breweries, but that might not be your thing.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

The Queen City

Looklyloo Score: 88