Pennington County, South Dakota
AffordabilityAffordability: grade B, better than 53% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade D, better than 13% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade F, better than 2% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B, better than 64% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 39% of US counties
- top 9% for income tax
- top 12% for commute time
- bottom 4% for violent crime
Pennington County is a county in South Dakota with about 110,000 residents. It grades B for getting around and F for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include income tax, commute time, and summer humidity. It rates lower on property crime and violent crime.
Official websiteco.pennington.sd.us (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm, dry summers · Harsh winters · Dry · Heavy snow
very cold
cold
cool
comf.
warm
comf.
cool
cold
v.cold
78%56%clearovercast
Precipitation 2.6 in0.4 in
dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$68k69th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$45kbetter than 52% of US counties
Home Value$248k80th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$996better than 23% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 18% of US counties
Property Tax Rate1.18%better than 28% of US counties
Income Tax0.00%better than 91% of US counties
Sales Tax6.11%better than 78% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden6.32%better than 84% of US counties
Unemployment3.5%better than 75% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)24°F21st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)70°F13th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation20.0 in13th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall52.8 inbetter than 10% of US counties
Sunny Days233 daysbetter than 45% of US counties
Summer Humidity55°Fbetter than 86% of US counties
Comfortable Days53 daysbetter than 12% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk78.6better than 21% of US counties
Air Quality45 AQIbetter than 35% of US counties
School Quality35.8better than 9% of US counties
Violent Crime2359/100kbetter than 4% of US counties
Property Crime2760/100kbetter than 5% of US counties
Community
Population110,38683rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age39.632nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.3458th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0477th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+2636th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)78.5%46th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)1.3%42nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)5.7%55th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)1.1%71st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)13.5%95th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time18 minbetter than 88% of US counties
Walkability7.5/20better than 82% of US counties
Airport Distance305 mibetter than 6% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access88.6%better than 81% of US counties
Amenities Nearby0.82better than 34% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessLimitedbetter than 21% of US counties
Frequently asked questions
- Is Pennington County an affordable place to live?
- Pennington County is about average in cost. Its cost-of-living index is $45k, better than 52% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Pennington County?
- The median home value in Pennington County is $248k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Pennington County?
- Median household income in Pennington County is $68k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Pennington County?
- Median gross rent in Pennington County is $996 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Pennington County safe?
- Pennington County is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 2359/100k (better than 4%). Property crime is 2760/100k.
- What is the weather like in Pennington County?
- Pennington County averages 70°F in July and 24°F in January, with 20.0 in of annual precipitation and about 233 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Pennington County?
- Public-school quality in Pennington County is below average, scoring better than 9% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Pennington County?
- The average one-way commute in Pennington County is 18 min.
Other counties in South Dakota
Explore South Dakota
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- 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)