McPherson County, South Dakota
Among the top 1% of US counties for affordability.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade A+, better than 99% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade B, better than 54% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade B+, better than 85% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade C, better than 44% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 50% of US counties
- top 1% for unemployment
- top 2% for estimated total tax burden
- bottom 6% for airport distance
McPherson County is a county in South Dakota with about 2,251 residents. It grades A+ for affordability and C for getting around. Standout strengths include unemployment, estimated total tax burden, and monthly rent. It rates lower on broadband access and airport distance.
Official websitemcpherson.sdcounties.org (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Harsh winters · Dry · Heavy snow
freezing
v.cold
cold
comf.
warm
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cool
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82%56%clearovercast
Precipitation 3.1 in0.6 in
humid 69%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$59k44th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$43kbetter than 77% of US counties
Home Value$78k2nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$553better than 96% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 72% of US counties
Property Tax Rate1.42%better than 17% of US counties
Income Tax0.00%better than 91% of US counties
Sales Tax6.11%better than 78% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden3.90%better than 98% of US counties
Unemployment0.3%better than 99% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)13°F3rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)71°F14th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation21.5 in15th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall42.3 inbetter than 18% of US counties
Sunny Days249 daysbetter than 63% of US counties
Summer Humidity61°Fbetter than 71% of US counties
Comfortable Days79 daysbetter than 49% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk11.1better than 87% of US counties
School Quality71.5better than 76% of US counties
Violent Crime703/100kbetter than 55% of US counties
Property Crime520/100kbetter than 71% of US counties
Community
Population2,2514th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age50.995th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.086th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9619th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+6687th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)95.2%96th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)1.9%49th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)1.0%5th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)0.3%26th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)1.6%10th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time21 minbetter than 75% of US counties
Walkability6.4/20better than 61% of US counties
Airport Distance298 mibetter than 6% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access71.2%better than 8% of US counties
Amenities Nearby8.88better than 83% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 65% of US counties
Frequently asked questions
- Is McPherson County an affordable place to live?
- McPherson County is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $43k, better than 77% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in McPherson County?
- The median home value in McPherson County is $78k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in McPherson County?
- Median household income in McPherson County is $59k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in McPherson County?
- Median gross rent in McPherson County is $553 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is McPherson County safe?
- McPherson County is about average for safety comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 703/100k (better than 55%). Property crime is 520/100k.
- What is the weather like in McPherson County?
- McPherson County averages 71°F in July and 13°F in January, with 21.5 in of annual precipitation and about 249 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in McPherson County?
- Public-school quality in McPherson County is above average, scoring better than 76% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in McPherson County?
- The average one-way commute in McPherson County is 21 min.
Other counties in South Dakota
Explore South Dakota
Data sources
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)