2026 editionMidwestPop. 935,094Capital Pierre40th state, admitted 1889Cook PVI R+20
Is South Dakota a Good Place to Live? South Dakota Rankings, Cost of Living, Crime & Taxes
South Dakota ranks #3 of 50 with a composite score of 79.3 and an A+ grade, strongest in fiscal health (#2) and weakest in health (#28). The median household earns $76,881 (5% below the national median), homes typically cost $321,574 (13% below the national average), and violent crime is 308 per 100,000 (6% below the national average).
South Dakota fits people who want a low tax bill: no income tax and a burden of 6.46%, in Sioux Falls's bank-and-hospital economy East River or Rapid City's Black Hills economy West River. The trade is health ranked #28, with care that thins between the two, and a grocery bill that carries sales tax.
South Dakota by the numbers
Six measures every state is judged on, each with South Dakota's rank of 50 and the national figure beside it.
Sources, latest releases: Census Bureau ACS (income), Zillow Research (home value), BEA Regional Price Parities (cost index), FBI state crime estimates (crime), BLS LAUS (unemployment), WalletHub tax burden study (taxes). Rank 1 is the best value in each measure: highest income, lowest cost, lowest crime.
Read the South Dakota overview
South Dakota scores above the national average in 10 of 11 categories and ranks #1 of 12 states in the Midwest, behind no other state in the region. Its biggest edge over the country is unemployment rate (2.1%, 1.9 points below the national average); its biggest shortfall is median household income ($76,881, 5% below the national median). With 5 top-10 finishes and no bottom-10 category, its weaknesses are relative, not absolute.
Where does South Dakota rank in each category?
All 11 categories that make up the composite, heaviest weight first. South Dakota is top 10 in 5 and bottom 10 in 0.
| Category | Score | Rank | Grade | Weight | US avg | The numbers behind it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | 70.0 | #3 of 50 | A+ | 15% | 47.1 | Its unemployment rate is 2.1% and median household income is $76,881. |
| Safety | 71.8 | #25 of 50 | B | 12% | 68.9 | The FBI estimates 307.5 violent crimes and 1,312.3 property crimes per 100,000 residents. |
| Health | 51.7 | #28 of 50 | C+ | 12% | 54.4 | Life expectancy is 77.3 years, 37% of adults have obesity, and 8.1% of residents are uninsured. |
| Education | 60.6 | #25 of 50 | B | 12% | 57.5 | Eighth graders average 281 in NAEP math and 260 in reading, and the high school graduation rate is 82.1%. |
| Affordability | 84.7 | #8 of 50 | A | 10% | 65.2 | Typical home value $321,574 (4.2x median income); cost of living index 88.6 (100 = US); center-based infant care $8,859 a year. |
| Fiscal Health | 76.3 | #2 of 50 | A+ | 8% | 58.1 | It carries $2,340 of debt per resident, has 100% of pensions funded, and holds a AAA credit rating. |
| Growth | 60.3 | #4 of 50 | A+ | 7% | 38.8 | Population grew 0.86% last year; Census net domestic migration is +2.3 per 1,000 residents (the Moving section below uses IRS household counts, a different series). |
| Transportation | 54.4 | #15 of 50 | B+ | 7% | 49.8 | The average commute is 18.5 minutes, 0.2% of workers use public transit, and 8% work from home. |
| Livability | 42.2 | #12 of 50 | B+ | 7% | 34.3 | It has 1.686 restaurants and 0.032 arts venues per 1,000 residents, plus 0.374 bars and 0.138 social associations per 1,000. |
| Outdoor Access | 45.8 | #7 of 50 | A | 6% | 29.4 | 5.4% of its land is public, with 6.96 recreation facilities per 10,000 residents. |
| Environment | 53.3 | #11 of 50 | B+ | 4% | 42.5 | Its median air quality index is 35, 80% of its electricity is renewable, and its FEMA disaster risk score is 66.1. |
Weight, US average and the evidence sentence for each category are shown on wider screens.
Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. US avg is the mean score of the 50 states. Click a category for its 50-state ranking.
Category shape
South Dakota's 11 category scores. A balanced state fills the wheel evenly; South Dakota bulges toward fiscal health and dips at health.
How expensive is South Dakota?
South Dakota's cost of living index is 88.6 against a national baseline of 100, 11% below the national average and #6 of 50 (1 = cheapest). The typical home is worth $321,574 (13% below the national average); buying it takes an income of about $90,326, $13,445 more than the median household earns. Inside the state the spread is wide: among tracked cities, Dakota Dunes is cheapest (index 86.5) and Tea priciest (90.6).
Housing market snapshot · August
Cool marketRanked #30 of 50 most expensive by typical value and #25 on price relative to income (1 = most affordable). The median household is $13,445 short of the income needed to buy the typical home.
Full South Dakota housing market: 26-year chart, rent vs. buy, cities →What a household keeps at $75,000
| Household | South Dakota | Median state | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family of fourTwo adults, two kids, one in daycare | +$3,556 | −$11,758 | #7 of 50 |
| Single adultOne-bedroom rent, no childcare | +$35,354 | +$31,418 | #15 of 50 |
| Retiree coupleOwn the home, no payroll tax | +$39,353 | +$35,970 | #17 of 50 |
Take-home pay minus housing, childcare, utilities, groceries and transport for a $75,000 household, from the affordability engine. Positive = money left over; negative = costs exceed take-home. Rank 1 = most left over.
What are taxes like in South Dakota?
South Dakota has no state income tax; instead it leans on with property and sales taxes in the middle of the pack. The total state and local tax burden comes to 6.46% of income, 2.3 points below the national average (#5 of 50, 1 = lightest). Property tax is 1.14% of home value (#32), and combined sales tax averages 6.11% (#15).
Tax Foundation (rates) and WalletHub tax burden study (burden as a share of income), latest releases. Rank 1 = lowest. Income tax is the top marginal rate including typical local taxes where they apply.
Can the state pay its bills?
Fiscal health scores 76.3 out of 100, #2 of 50. Pew Fiscal 50, Census state finances and the rating agencies, latest releases.
Is South Dakota safe?
South Dakota reports 308 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 6% below the national average and #28 of 50 (1 = safest). Property crime runs 1,312 per 100,000, 14% below the national average (#16 of 50). The safety score is 71.8 out of 100, #25 of 50; among tracked cities, Brandon has the lowest violent crime rate.
South Dakota vs. the United States, per 100,000 residents
FBI state crime estimates, latest release. US is the mean of the 50 states; blue = below it, terracotta = above it. Florida and North Dakota use the FBI's prior-year estimate because their latest year is based on limited data.
Safest tracked cities in South Dakota
| City | Population | Violent / 100K | Property / 100K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon | 10,996 | 46 | 334 |
| Madison | 6,094 | 99 | 890 |
| Brookings | 23,948 | 113 | 869 |
| Tea | 6,786 | 169 | 782 |
| Watertown | 23,044 | 181 | 734 |
Lowest violent crime among the 20 South Dakota cities we track. City rates come from each city's police agency and are not strictly comparable across agencies.
What is the job market like in South Dakota?
South Dakota's unemployment rate is 2.1%, 1.9 points below the national average and #1 of 50 (1 = lowest), and the median household earns $76,881, 5% below the national median. Real GDP grew +1.3% in the latest year (#41 of 50) and GDP per capita is $64,792, 1% above the national average. The population is growing 0.86% a year, 0.4 points above the national average. The economy score is 70 out of 100, #3 of 50.
Census Bureau ACS (income), BLS LAUS (unemployment), BEA (GDP), Census population estimates (growth), latest releases.
Highest-paying tracked occupations in South Dakota, adjusted for cost of living
| Occupation | Cost-adjusted | Median wage | Metro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physicians | $202,091 | $177,840 | Sioux Falls |
| Lawyers | $141,728 | $124,721 | Sioux Falls |
| Software Developers | $124,314 | $109,396 | Sioux Falls |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $93,043 | $81,878 | Sioux Falls |
| General & Operations Managers | $90,123 | $79,308 | Sioux Falls |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, latest release, for the 20 occupations we track. Cost-adjusted wage divides the metro median by its cost of living index.
How are South Dakota's schools and healthcare?
South Dakota's education score is 60.6 out of 100, #25 of 50. Eighth graders average 281 in NAEP math (#6 of 50) and 260 in reading (#16 of 50), and the high school graduation rate is 82.1%, 3.5 points below the national average (#41 of 50).
South Dakota is #28 of 50 for health, with a life expectancy of 77.3 years, 0.4 years above the national average. 37% of adults have obesity (#39 of 50) and 8.1% of residents have no health insurance (#31 of 50). The health score is 51.7 out of 100, weighted 12% of the composite.
CDC National Center for Health Statistics (state life tables), CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (obesity), and Census Bureau American Community Survey (health insurance), latest releases.
Who is moving to South Dakota, and who is leaving?
South Dakota gained a net 1,539 households from other states in the latest IRS release: 15,986 moved in and 14,447 moved out, +1.6 per 1,000 residents (#14 of 50). Arriving households report an average income of $73,743 against $63,892 for those leaving. The Census Bureau's American Community Survey, which counts people rather than households, shows a net -6.8K people (22.7K in, 29.5K out, ±5.8K), pointing the other way, so treat the direction as uncertain.
Where they come from
- 1Minnesota2,243 · $71,016
- 2Iowa1,280 · $57,856
- 3California1,243 · $90,331
- 4Colorado990 · $76,938
- 5Nebraska970 · $59,886
Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households arrived from these states in the latest IRS release.
Where should you live in South Dakota?
By composite score, the best of the 20 South Dakota cities we track are Brandon (70), Tea (69.8), and Dakota Dunes (68.7). Dakota Dunes is the cheapest (cost index 86.5), Dakota Dunes the richest ($136,125), and Tea the fastest growing (+4.1% a year). City ranks are among the 20 South Dakota cities we cover, not every city in the state.
Standout cities in South Dakota
| Best for | City | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Safest | Brandon | 46 violent crimes per 100K |
| Cheapest | Dakota Dunes | cost of living index 86.5 |
| Most walkable | Sioux Falls | walkability 12.1 of 20 |
| Cleanest air | Pierre | median AQI 18 (county) |
| Best schools | Brandon | 98% graduation rate |
| Richest | Dakota Dunes | $136,125 |
Among the 20 South Dakota cities we track. Safest uses a full year of FBI reports from the city's own police agency; air quality is measured by county, so cities in the same county share a reading.
Regions of South Dakota
The growth engine: banks, hospitals and the fastest-building suburbs in the state; Tea, Harrisburg and Brandon cost more than the city and grow faster.
Corn and soybean country with a college in Brookings, Vermillion and Madison; cheap houses, short commutes, and jobs tied to ag, ethanol and a state university.
A planned suburb at the Iowa and Nebraska corner, the richest tracked city, commuting into Sioux City while paying South Dakota taxes.
The capital on the river, hours from either metro; state payroll, hunting and fishing, and a small-town market with higher crime than its size suggests.
Rapid City, Box Elder, Spearfish and Sturgis: pines, tourists and a Mountain-time pace; Rapid City is the cheapest tracked city, but the Hills towns price for scenery.
All 20 tracked cities, best to worst
| # | City | Grade | Score | Population | Income | Violent / 100K | Cost index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brandon | A+ | 70.0 | 10,996 | $110,806 | 46 | 90.6 |
| 2 | Tea | A+ | 69.8 | 6,786 | $120,139 | 169 | 90.6 |
| 3 | Dakota Dunes | A+ | 68.7 | 3,936 | $136,125 | — | 86.5 |
| 4 | Harrisburg | B+ | 62.7 | 8,519 | $108,724 | — | 90.6 |
| 5 | Sioux Falls | B+ | 61.9 | 201,469 | $75,970 | 364 | 90.6 |
| 6 | Aberdeen | B+ | 59.8 | 28,189 | $64,405 | 425 | 86.7 |
| 7 | Brookings | B | 56.9 | 23,948 | $63,493 | 113 | 86.7 |
| 8 | Watertown | C+ | 55.7 | 23,044 | $69,600 | 181 | 86.7 |
| 9 | Madison | C+ | 55.7 | 6,094 | $65,593 | 99 | 86.7 |
| 10 | Spearfish | C+ | 55.1 | 12,930 | $65,688 | 232 | 86.7 |
| 11 | Rapid Valley | C+ | 54.8 | 6,975 | $83,208 | — | 89.2 |
| 12 | Yankton | C+ | 53.9 | 15,540 | $67,804 | 191 | 86.7 |
| 13 | Pierre | C+ | 53.5 | 13,948 | $77,672 | 561 | 86.7 |
| 14 | Mitchell | C+ | 52.8 | 15,649 | $58,620 | 288 | 86.7 |
| 15 | Box Elder | C+ | 52.7 | 12,902 | $73,008 | 312 | 89.2 |
| 16 | Rapid City | C | 52.1 | 77,946 | $70,870 | 767 | 89.2 |
| 17 | Huron | C | 49.4 | 14,385 | $61,452 | 281 | 86.7 |
| 18 | Belle Fourche | C | 49.1 | 5,804 | $65,071 | 254 | 86.7 |
| 19 | Vermillion | D | 48.4 | 11,878 | $50,456 | 185 | 86.7 |
| 20 | Sturgis | D | 47.6 | 7,086 | $54,404 | 329 | 89.2 |
Swipe the table sideways for more columns. Rank is among the 20 South Dakota cities we track: every city of 50,000 or more, plus the state's other largest places. City scores use city-level Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, EPA and NCES data, and a category with no city data is left out of the score rather than filled with the state's figure.
Best cities in South Dakota for…
| # | City | Score | Education | Safety | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brandon | 71.3 | 58.0 | 100.0 | 77.2 |
| 2 | Tea | 69.7 | 50.9 | 90.5 | 73.6 |
| 3 | Harrisburg | 65.0 | 57.7 | — | 73.6 |
| 4 | Aberdeen | 64.4 | 57.7 | 70.4 | 87.1 |
| 5 | Brookings | 64.2 | 59.3 | 93.4 | 83.5 |
Who is South Dakota best for?
The same 11 category scores, re-weighted for six kinds of household. Rank is among the 50 states; click through for the best South Dakota cities for each.
Weights differ by household: families lean on education, safety and housing; retirees on fiscal health, healthcare and cost. See the weights →
How does South Dakota compare with its neighbors?
South Dakota ranks #3. Among its bordering states, Wyoming ranks highest (#2) and Iowa lowest (#14). Wyoming is the most similar on the composite score and Iowa the most different. Bordering states are listed best to worst; the national line is the mean of the 50 states.
| State | Overall | Score | Median income | Typical home | Cost index | Violent crime | Tax burden | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | #3 | 79.3 | $76,881 | $321,574 | 88.6 | 308 | 6.46% | |
| Wyoming | #2 | 79.9 | $75,532 | $371,854 | 92.7 | 180 | 5.79% | Compare → |
| North Dakota | #5 | 75.5 | $77,871 | $292,293 | 89 | 257 | 6.61% | Compare → |
| Montana | #7 | 75.0 | $75,340 | $471,746 | 94.6 | 419 | 7.87% | Compare → |
| Nebraska | #10 | 71.1 | $76,376 | $280,673 | 90.1 | 218 | 8.78% | Compare → |
| Minnesota | #12 | 70.4 | $87,117 | $350,752 | 98.6 | 224 | 9.72% | Compare → |
| Iowa | #14 | 69.2 | $75,501 | $239,547 | 87.8 | 234 | 9.23% | Compare → |
| United States | — | 57.9 | $80,903 | $368,697 | 100 | 328 | 8.74% |
Overall rank, median income, cost index and tax burden columns are shown on wider screens.
How the score works
Eleven categories, each scored 0–100 and weighted into one composite. Grades follow rank.
The weights
Economy 15% · Safety 12% · Health 12% · Education 12% · Affordability 10% · Fiscal Health 8% · Growth 7% · Transportation 7% · Livability 7% · Outdoor Access 6% · Environment 4%. The composite is the weighted sum, stretched linearly so states spread across most of the 0–100 range.
From raw numbers to scores
Every raw measure is placed on a 0–100 scale between a fixed floor and ceiling, inverted where lower is better (crime, cost, taxes), then combined within its category. The same scale applies to every state.
Letter grades
Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. A C+ state is not failing; it is in the middle third.
Cities, budgets and neighbors
The 20 South Dakota city scores, the household budgets and the neighbor table on this page are computed from the same sources as the state score. City ranks are among the cities we track, not all cities in the state.
Editor's notes
Passages marked as editor's notes are written for this state and add context the numbers cannot: regions, tradeoffs, who the state fits. Every figure inside them is pulled from the data at build time, so the words cannot drift from the numbers.
Always the latest release
Each source is the most recent release its agency has published. The page is rebuilt when a source updates, so the score can move without any change in the state itself.
What the score cannot tell you
Weather and climate, culture and pace, politics beyond the Cook index shown for context, the quality of a specific school, hospital or neighborhood, job prospects in your field, and anything without a public, comparable, 50-state source. Statewide averages also hide the metro-versus-rural split, which is why the editor's notes name places.
Category briefs
Economy: Unemployment rate and median household income. Safety: Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. Health: Health outcomes, behaviors, and access to care. Education: K-12 school quality, test scores, and graduation rates. Full methodology →
Key takeaways
What the South Dakota numbers say when read together.
Fiscal Health is South Dakota's strongest suit
South Dakota is a #3 state overall but #2 of 50 for fiscal health, 1 place better than its composite rank, with a score of 76.3 against a national average of 58.1. Economy (#3) is next. Fiscal health carries 8% of the composite.
Health is where South Dakota falls furthest behind
South Dakota ranks #28 of 50 for health, 25 places below its overall #3, with a score of 51.7 against a national average of 54.4. At 12% of the composite, it is the category holding the overall score down most.
Unemployment rate is 1.9 points below the national average
South Dakota's unemployment rate is 2.1%, 1.9 points below the national average of 3.95%, #1 of 50 (1 = lowest). The largest gap in the other direction is median household income: $76,881, 5% below the national median. Source: BLS LAUS, latest release.
More households arrive than leave
South Dakota ranks #14 of 50 on net household flow per 1,000 residents (+1.6). The households arriving report $9,851 more in average income than those leaving ($73,743 against $63,892), so the state is trading up on income even as the headcount grows. Minnesota is both the largest source and the largest destination.
A middle income stretches further here than in most states
A family of four earning $75,000 ends the year at a $3,556 surplus after housing, childcare, utilities, groceries, transport and taxes, against a $11,758 shortfall in the median state (#7 of 50). A single adult on the same income comes out at a $35,354 surplus; a retiree couple at a $39,353 surplus. Infant childcare runs $8,859 a year, 43% below the national average.
South Dakota sits 2nd among its 7-state neighborhood
1 of South Dakota's 6 bordering states ranks above its #3; the closest match on the composite is Wyoming. Median income among them runs from $75,340 in Montana to $87,117 in Minnesota; South Dakota is at $76,881.
Frequently asked questions about living in South Dakota
Is South Dakota a good place to live?
South Dakota ranks #3 of 50 with an A+ grade, #1 of 12 in the Midwest. It is top 10 in fiscal health, economy, growth, outdoor access, and affordability. On the six headline measures it beats the national figure on 5 of 6 (home prices, cost of living, violent crime, unemployment, and tax burden) and trails on income. Whether that adds up to a good place to live depends on what you weigh; the household rankings below re-weight the same numbers for families, retirees and remote workers.
Where does South Dakota rank among US states?
South Dakota ranks #3 of 50 overall with a composite score of 79.3 (grade A+), and #1 of 12 states in the Midwest. Its best category rank is #2 (fiscal health) and its worst #28 (health). The composite weights eleven categories, with economy, safety, health and education counting most; grades follow rank, so A+ means rank 1–5.
Is it expensive to live in South Dakota?
At #6 of 50 for cost of living (1 = cheapest), South Dakota is 11% below the national average: its index is 88.6 against a national baseline of 100. The typical home value is $321,574 (13% below the national average), and buying it takes an income of about $90,326 against a median household income of $76,881. At $75,000, a family of four comes out at a $3,556 surplus after all costs, #7 of 50 (1 = most left over).
Does South Dakota have a state income tax?
No. South Dakota levies no state income tax on wages. Its total state and local tax burden is 6.46% of income (#5 of 50, 1 = lowest), 2.3 points below the national average. Property tax is 1.14% of home value and combined sales tax 6.11%.
What is the crime rate in South Dakota?
South Dakota reports 308 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 6% below the national average and #28 of 50 (1 = safest), and 1,312 property crimes per 100,000, 14% below the national average (#16). Its safety score is 71.8 out of 100, #25 of 50. Figures are FBI estimates from the latest release.
Does South Dakota have good schools?
South Dakota is #25 of 50 for education (score 60.6 out of 100). Its public school students average 281 in eighth-grade math on NAEP (#6) and 260 in eighth-grade reading (#16), and the high school graduation rate is 82.1%, 3.5 points below the national average (#41). Among tracked cities with at least three schools, Brandon has the highest graduation rate at 98%.
Why are people moving to South Dakota?
South Dakota gained a net 1,539 households in the latest IRS release: 15,986 moved in and 14,447 moved out, +1.6 per 1,000 residents (#14 of 50). The largest source of arrivals is Minnesota (2,243 households) and the most common destination is Minnesota (1,855). Arriving households report an average income of $73,743 against $63,892 for those leaving, so movers in earn more than movers out. The IRS files count tax returns and say nothing about motives.
Is South Dakota a red or blue state?
South Dakota is a solidly red state: its Cook Partisan Voting Index is R+20, meaning it votes about 20 points more Republican than the country as a whole. The political lean is shown for context and is not part of the composite score.
What is it like living in South Dakota?
Slow and cold, and split by the Missouri. East River is farm grid and Sioux Falls, where most people and most jobs are. West River is ranch, reservation and the Black Hills, on Mountain time, with Rapid City as the only city. Commutes average 18.5 minutes. Winters bring wind and ice; summers bring hail and heat, and pheasant season fills the small towns in October.
Is South Dakota a good place to retire?
Yes, on the arithmetic: #3 for retirees, no state tax on retirement income, a retiree couple on $75,000 left with a $39,353 surplus, and property tax relief for lower-income older homeowners. The catch is health care: the state ranks #28 for health, and care gets thin fast outside Sioux Falls and Rapid City. Retire near one of those two, not to a ranch an hour out.
Why is South Dakota so cheap?
Flat, plentiful farmland East River and empty ranch country West River, plus no income tax; the cost index is 88.6, #6. Sioux Falls kept building through the boom. The tax burden of 6.46% helps. What is not cheap is buying into the suburbs or the Hills, where the typical home has climbed to $321,574 and price to income is 4.2x.
Does South Dakota get tornadoes or blizzards?
Both, and the FEMA risk index of 66.1 (#49) is mostly that. Blizzards close the interstates a few times each winter, and wind drifts prairie roads shut for days. Tornado and hail season runs May through July, heaviest East River. Hail is the insurance claim to expect; roofs here get replaced on a schedule. West River adds Black Hills wildfire and ranch drought.
Is South Dakota good for remote workers?
Yes, on the math: #2 for remote workers, no income tax on a salary earned anywhere, and a cost index of 88.6. The caveats are broadband at 91.3% of households, #40, which drops off West River, and a work-from-home share of 8%, so the coworking scene is thin. Sioux Falls has direct flights; Rapid City has a few.
All the numbers
Every metric behind South Dakota's 11 category scores, with the national figure beside each. Pick a category.