Quality of life comparison
If you lived in District of Columbia instead of South Dakota, you would:
Health
live 1.3 years longer
In South Dakota, the average life expectancy is 77 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2020. In District of Columbia, that number is 78 years (75 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2019.
be 28.9% less likely to be obese
In South Dakota, 35.6% of adults are obese as of 2022. In District of Columbia, that number is 25.3% of people as of 2022.
Economy
make 3.4 times more money
South Dakota has a GDP per capita of $61,724 as of 2024, while in District of Columbia, the GDP per capita is $209,167 as of 2024.
be 2.7 times more likely to be unemployed
In South Dakota, 2.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In District of Columbia, that number is 6.4% as of 2025.
be 21.4% more likely to live below the poverty line
In South Dakota, 11.2% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In District of Columbia, however, that number is 13.6% as of 2023.
Safety
be 3.3 times more likely to be a victim of violent crime
South Dakota has a violent crime rate of 344 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 1,126 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 2.6 times more likely to be a victim of property crime
South Dakota has a property crime rate of 1,591 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 4,216 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
earn 46.8% more money
The median household income in South Dakota is $72,421 as of 2023, while in District of Columbia, it is $106,287 as of 2023.
pay 3.1 times more for a home
The median home value in South Dakota is $236,800 as of 2023, compared to $724,600 in District of Columbia as of 2023.
pay 2.1 times more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in South Dakota is $912 as of 2023, while in District of Columbia, it is $1,900 as of 2023.
be 40.1% less likely to own your home
In South Dakota, 68.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 41.1% as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 62.1% less likely to be uninsured
In South Dakota, 8.7% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 3.3% as of 2023.
be 27.0% less likely to smoke
In South Dakota, 15.9% of adults smoke as of 2022. In District of Columbia, that number is 11.6% as of 2022.
be 31.7% less likely to be physically inactive
In South Dakota, 22.7% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In District of Columbia, that number is 15.5% as of 2022.
be 2.2 times more likely to have a bachelor's degree
In South Dakota, 19.8% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 44.4% as of 2023.
be 3.1 times more likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In South Dakota, 2.1% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 6.5% as of 2023.
commute 12.7 minutes longer
The average one-way commute in South Dakota takes 17.6 minutes as of 2023. In District of Columbia, it takes 30.3 minutes as of 2023.
live among residents who are 2.8 years older on average
The median age in South Dakota is 37.7 years as of 2023. In District of Columbia, the median age is 34.9 years as of 2023.
live in an area that is 919.7 times more densely populated
South Dakota has a population density of 4.7 people per sq km as of 2023. In District of Columbia, that number is 4,322.8 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 26.9% more likely to be food insecure
In South Dakota, 7.8% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In District of Columbia, that number is 9.9% as of 2021.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Feeding America, OECD Regional Demography, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
