Cost of Living in Meade County, South Dakota
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Meade County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Meade County ranks #2,659 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 15%)
Sourced county brief
Meade County median gross rent surpasses $1,200 per month
In Meade County, the median gross rent was estimated at $1,264 per month, which is $479 above the South Dakota unweighted county mean of $785. The official rentBurdenGrapiPct, defined as the median gross rent as a percentage of household income (ACS B25071), was 25.2%. This figure is 2.5 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 22.7%. For owner-occupied housing, the median home value was $310,900, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $181,021. Median selected monthly owner costs for all units were $1,247, while the state unweighted county mean was $853. The median renter-household income was $53,239 according to ACS B25119. These statistics describe the housing cost environment for the 2020-2024 period. See ACS table B25064 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Meade County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 25.2% of renter household income in Meade County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,264 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,247. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $50,560 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The South Dakota unweighted mean of county median rents is $785 per month. Meade County's $1,264 median is 61.1% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Meade County
Rent Burden
20.3%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,745
per month
Owner Cost Burden
20.0%
of gross income
The median home in Meade County may be a stretch
Median home value is $310,900. Estimated monthly cost: $2,482 vs. your max of $1,745.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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