South Dakota
Among the top 1% of US states for affordability.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade A+, better than 100% of US states
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 47% of US states
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade B, better than 59% of US states
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade C, better than 34% of US states
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade D, better than 14% of US states
- top 1% for commute time
- top 2% for cost of living
- bottom 6% for airport distance
South Dakota is a U.S. state with about 890,000 residents. It grades A+ for affordability and D for lifestyle & connectivity. Standout strengths include commute time, cost of living, and unemployment. It rates lower on park & nature access and airport distance.
Official websitesd.gov (opens in new tab)
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$69k33rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$44kbetter than 98% of US states
Home Value$211k29th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$872better than 94% of US states
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 67% of US states
Property Tax Rate1.17%better than 31% of US states
Income Tax0.11%better than 88% of US states
Sales Tax6.11%better than 70% of US states
Estimated total tax burden5.62%better than 92% of US states
Unemployment3.3%better than 96% of US states
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)19°F6th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)73°F29th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation24.8 in20th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall45.0 inbetter than 27% of US states
Sunny Days239 daysbetter than 67% of US states
Summer Humidity60°Fbetter than 71% of US states
Comfortable Days71 daysbetter than 18% of US states
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk56.6better than 92% of US states
Air Quality42 AQIbetter than 72% of US states
School Quality43.0better than 14% of US states
Violent Crime1321/100kbetter than 42% of US states
Property Crime1540/100kbetter than 62% of US states
Community
Population890,34210th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age37.825th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.2516th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0394th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+2686th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)80.6%82nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)2.2%22nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)4.4%18th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)1.4%16th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)11.4%94th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time18 minbetter than 99% of US states
Walkability7.7/20better than 31% of US states
Airport Distance222 mibetter than 6% of US states
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access86.3%better than 27% of US states
Amenities Nearby3.83better than 53% of US states
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 6% of US states
Frequently asked questions
- Is South Dakota an affordable place to live?
- South Dakota is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $44k, better than 98% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in South Dakota?
- The median home value in South Dakota is $211k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in South Dakota?
- Median household income in South Dakota is $69k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in South Dakota?
- Median gross rent in South Dakota is $872 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is South Dakota safe?
- South Dakota is about average for safety comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1321/100k (better than 42%). Property crime is 1540/100k.
- What is the weather like in South Dakota?
- South Dakota averages 73°F in July and 19°F in January, with 24.8 in of annual precipitation and about 239 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in South Dakota?
- Public-school quality in South Dakota is below average, scoring better than 14% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in South Dakota?
- The average one-way commute in South Dakota is 18 min.
Best places to live in South Dakota
Top cities in South Dakota
Counties in 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)