Is Oklahoma or South Dakota a better state to live in?

Based on our composite scoring, South Dakota ranks higher overall. Oklahoma is #42 and South Dakota is #2 out of 50 states. Oklahoma wins 1 of 11 categories, while South Dakota wins 10.

How does Oklahoma compare to South Dakota in cost of living?

Oklahoma has a cost of living index of 88, while South Dakota's is 88 (100 = national average). South Dakota is more affordable.

Which state is safer, Oklahoma or South Dakota?

Oklahoma has 434 violent crimes per 100K residents, vs 330 in South Dakota. South Dakota has the lower crime rate.

What are the median incomes in Oklahoma vs South Dakota?

Oklahoma's median household income is $60,528, compared to $72,280 in South Dakota.

Oklahoma vs South Dakota: Side-by-Side (2026)

Oklahoma

#42·South

41.5Composite Score

VSSouth Dakota leads

A+

South Dakota

#2·Midwest

81.8Composite Score

1OK wins

10SD wins

Category Overlay

OklahomaSouth Dakota

Category Scores

💰 EconomySD +30.3

40.0

70.3

🛡️ SafetySD +26.4

40.5

66.9

🏥 HealthSD +42.9

10.2

53.1

🎓 EducationSD +67.4

22.4

89.8

💼 Fiscal HealthSD +17.9

58.4

76.3

📈 GrowthSD +14.1

49.3

63.4

🏠 AffordabilityOK +6.3

90.8

84.5

🌿 EnvironmentSD +16.0

37.3

53.3

🏞️ Outdoor AccessSD +33.1

12.7

45.8

🚇 TransportationSD +13.1

43.6

56.7

🎭 LivabilitySD +23.8

30.5

54.3

Key Metrics Comparison

Metric	Oklahoma	South Dakota	Winner
Population	4,019,800	919,318	OK
Median Income	$60,528	$72,280	SD
Unemployment	3.3%	2%	SD
Violent Crime Rate(per 100K)	434	330	SD
Cost of Living(100 = national avg)	88	88	Tie
HS Graduation Rate	86%	85%	OK
Life Expectancy	75 yr	78.5 yr	SD
Pop Growth	+0.6%	+1%	SD

Oklahoma vs South Dakota: How Do They Compare?

Oklahoma ranks #42 overall with a composite score of 41.5, earning a C grade. South Dakota sits at #2 with 81.8 and a A+ grade. South Dakota has the edge overall, winning 10 of 11 categories.

On the economic front, Oklahoma has 3.3% unemployment and a $60,528 median income, while South Dakota reports 2% unemployment and $72,280 median income.

For safety, Oklahoma's violent crime rate is 434 per 100K compared to 330 in South Dakota. Cost of living favors South Dakota with an index of 88 vs 88.

Explore These States

Oklahoma Full Profile41.5 South Dakota Full Profile81.8 Compare Other States→

Data Sources

📎Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025)📎U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 📎FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2023 📎America's Health Rankings, 2025 📎WalletHub/NAEP, 2025 📎U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 📎Cook Political Report, PVI 2024 📎Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025 📎ALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025 📎WalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025 📎U.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025 📎BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 📎EPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024 📎EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 📎FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025 📎U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024 📎FCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025 📎National Park Service API, 2024 📎USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024 📎U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 📎U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting)📎FHWA Highway Statistics, 2023 📎U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 📎EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 📎EIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024 📎DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023 📎BEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023 📎NCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24 📎EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22 📎NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23 📎BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023 📎NASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023 📎Census Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022 📎Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023 📎Pew Charitable Trusts, FY2022 📎S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025 📎Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023)📎IRS Statistics of Income, State-to-State Migration 2022-2023