South Dakota Cost of Living
Housing costs and affordability data for 66 counties.
Average Monthly Rent
$756/mo
Average Home Value
$166,130
Average Owner Cost
$824/mo
County cost atlas
South Dakota housing costs by county
Compare rent, entry-price context, owner costs, and cost score in one state view. Pin a county, switch layers, then open the full county profile when a place needs closer review.
Counties
66
Avg rent
$756/mo
Owner cost
$824/mo
Avg score
62.9
Higher means lower cost pressure
Atlas layers use U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. Rent, owner cost, and home value are county medians. Cost score rewards lower rent and lower owner costs, but affordability still depends on income, household size, commute, debt, and personal finances. Use this as decision context, not personalized financial advice.
State Cost Summary
Use these state averages as a starting point, then scan the atlas and rankings for the county-level spread behind them.
Housing Costs in South Dakota: An Overview
The median rent in South Dakota is $756 per month, which is 35% below the national median of $1,163. That is useful statewide context, but rent burden still depends on local income, household size, commute, and the county a household chooses.
Within South Dakota, housing costs vary significantly by county. Lincoln County has the highest median rent in this dataset at $1,237 per month and a median home value of $323,500. Jackson County has the lowest reported median rent at $460 per month and a median home value of $111,500.
The average home value across South Dakota counties is $166,130, 41% lower than the national median of $281,900. Median household income is roughly $66,926, so home values should be read alongside local wages, financing costs, taxes, insurance, and supply.
Before comparing places in South Dakota, start with the county-level pattern. Costs can swing dramatically between rural and urban counties. Use the atlas, rankings, and county links below to compare rent, home values, owner costs, and rent burden before opening a specific county profile.
Distribution
Rent Distribution in South Dakota
How median rents are spread across 66 counties
Highest Median Rent Counties
Lowest Median Rent Counties
All South Dakota Counties
Sorted by median rent, highest first. A higher cost score means lower rent and owner cost pressure within the national scoring model.
| County | Median Rent | Home Value | Owner Cost | Cost Score | Rent/Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | Moderate$1,237/mo | $323,500 | $1,555/mo | 10.8 | 26.0% |
| Meade County | Moderate$1,150/mo | $274,800 | $1,261/mo | 16.8 | 26.0% |
| Custer County | Moderate$1,117/mo | $327,200 | $1,062/mo | 23.1 | 21.0% |
| Pennington County | Moderate$1,066/mo | $270,400 | $1,241/mo | 19.6 | 29.0% |
| Union County | Moderate$1,055/mo | $269,500 | $1,255/mo | 19.9 | 24.0% |
| Walworth County | Affordable$962/mo | $130,000 | $811/mo | 43.1 | 26.0% |
| Minnehaha County | Affordable$954/mo | $266,600 | $1,286/mo | 24.3 | 25.0% |
| Butte County | Affordable$940/mo | $207,700 | $990/mo | 33.8 | 27.0% |
| Hughes County | Affordable$930/mo | $221,100 | $1,131/mo | 29.3 | 24.0% |
| Lawrence County | Affordable$923/mo | $310,800 | $913/mo | 38.5 | 26.0% |
| Hyde County | Affordable$921/mo | $134,500 | $823/mo | 45.1 | 30.0% |
| Sully County | Affordable$913/mo | $198,700 | $773/mo | 48.8 | 26.0% |
| Codington County | Affordable$901/mo | $218,000 | $985/mo | 37.0 | 24.0% |
| Stanley County | Affordable$896/mo | $169,900 | $1,030/mo | 35.7 | 24.0% |
| Edmunds County | Affordable$881/mo | $163,600 | $853/mo | 45.9 | 15.0% |
| Brookings County | Affordable$874/mo | $246,300 | $1,155/mo | 33.3 | 24.0% |
| Potter County | Affordable$869/mo | $121,300 | $657/mo | 61.4 | 24.0% |
| Lake County | Affordable$868/mo | $231,000 | $908/mo | 43.4 | 26.0% |
| Fall River County | Affordable$866/mo | $176,300 | $849/mo | 47.7 | 38.0% |
| Douglas County | Affordable$864/mo | $125,000 | $712/mo | 57.7 | 17.0% |
| Beadle County | Affordable$834/mo | $178,400 | $917/mo | 46.7 | 27.0% |
| Tripp County | Affordable$809/mo | $137,100 | $730/mo | 62.6 | 37.0% |
| Brown County | Affordable$794/mo | $212,900 | $1,126/mo | 43.3 | 23.0% |
| Yankton County | Affordable$777/mo | $208,200 | $1,002/mo | 49.8 | 22.0% |
| Hamlin County | Affordable$769/mo | $207,700 | $1,018/mo | 50.5 | 20.0% |
| Davison County | Affordable$750/mo | $190,000 | $889/mo | 58.7 | 25.0% |
| McCook County | Affordable$750/mo | $217,300 | $963/mo | 54.9 | 21.0% |
| Turner County | Affordable$745/mo | $199,000 | $950/mo | 56.0 | 23.0% |
| Marshall County | Affordable$743/mo | $147,200 | $730/mo | 70.9 | 18.0% |
| Aurora County | Affordable$739/mo | $129,000 | $804/mo | 66.1 | 17.0% |
| Mellette County | Affordable$737/mo | $63,000 | $535/mo | 84.8 | 20.0% |
| Clay County | Affordable$736/mo | $221,800 | $1,230/mo | 47.7 | 25.0% |
| Hanson County | Affordable$733/mo | $192,400 | $923/mo | 58.7 | 17.0% |
| Charles Mix County | Affordable$727/mo | $169,200 | $723/mo | 73.3 | 22.0% |
| Kingsbury County | Affordable$725/mo | $159,600 | $805/mo | 67.7 | 34.0% |
| Moody County | Affordable$723/mo | $206,300 | $871/mo | 63.2 | 21.0% |
| Sanborn County | Affordable$717/mo | $138,500 | $751/mo | 72.3 | 27.0% |
| Ziebach County | Affordable$715/mo | $101,700 | $651/mo | 80.2 | 28.0% |
| Dewey County | Affordable$714/mo | $75,400 | $618/mo | 82.3 | 22.0% |
| Hutchinson County | Affordable$714/mo | $160,500 | $741/mo | 73.6 | 22.0% |
| Clark County | Affordable$709/mo | $141,900 | $750/mo | 73.3 | 20.0% |
| Perkins County | Affordable$703/mo | $105,900 | $655/mo | 80.9 | 24.0% |
| Brule County | Affordable$700/mo | $205,500 | $739/mo | 74.9 | 22.0% |
| Faulk County | Affordable$692/mo | $124,100 | $695/mo | 78.5 | 17.0% |
| Spink County | Affordable$691/mo | $117,400 | $744/mo | 75.2 | 17.0% |
| Haakon County | Affordable$688/mo | $153,200 | $659/mo | 81.9 | 17.0% |
| Deuel County | Affordable$668/mo | $180,100 | $788/mo | 73.3 | 18.0% |
| Grant County | Affordable$668/mo | $179,400 | $873/mo | 67.3 | 24.0% |
| Roberts County | Affordable$656/mo | $139,100 | $693/mo | 81.0 | 22.0% |
| Campbell County | Affordable$635/mo | $87,900 | $672/mo | 83.8 | 26.0% |
| Day County | Affordable$623/mo | $155,100 | $791/mo | 75.5 | 23.0% |
| Bon Homme County | Affordable$620/mo | $120,300 | $747/mo | 78.8 | 21.0% |
| Bennett County | Affordable$616/mo | $138,600 | $628/mo | 87.6 | 19.0% |
| Gregory County | Affordable$614/mo | $129,000 | $583/mo | 90.7 | 24.0% |
| Lyman County | Affordable$603/mo | $156,500 | $633/mo | 87.7 | 17.0% |
| McPherson County | Affordable$580/mo | $78,400 | $537/mo | 94.4 | 23.0% |
| Jerauld County | Affordable$565/mo | $127,000 | $730/mo | 81.6 | 18.0% |
| Miner County | Affordable$563/mo | $114,100 | $668/mo | 86.3 | 15.0% |
| Oglala Lakota County | Affordable$563/mo | $45,600 | $406/mo | 98.5 | 20.0% |
| Hand County | Affordable$553/mo | $152,100 | $760/mo | 79.3 | 23.0% |
| Jones County | Affordable$544/mo | $117,100 | $854/mo | 72.8 | 14.0% |
| Todd County | Affordable$537/mo | $45,200 | $405/mo | 99.0 | 20.0% |
| Buffalo County | Affordable$535/mo | $108,000 | $328/mo | 99.3 | 19.0% |
| Harding County | Affordable$478/mo | $156,400 | $674/mo | 86.7 | 9.0% |
| Corson County | Affordable$473/mo | $73,800 | $548/mo | 95.1 | 18.0% |
| Jackson County | Affordable$460/mo | $111,500 | $593/mo | 92.0 | 26.0% |
Compare South Dakota to Other States
See how South Dakota counties stack up against counties in other states. Compare rent, home values, and affordability side by side.
Start a ComparisonFrequently Asked Questions About South Dakota Housing Costs
What is the most affordable county in South Dakota?
What is the most expensive county to live in South Dakota?
How does South Dakota's cost of living compare to the national average?
What is the average home value in South Dakota?
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Compare Moving QuotesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.