Cost of Living in Mellette County, South Dakota
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
How Mellette County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
Data Story
About Cost of Living in Mellette County, South Dakota
Mellette County: cheap rents, stretched income
Mellette County's 17.2% rent-to-income ratio represents a paradox—affordable rents of $737 monthly paired with a low median household income of $51,364, creating genuine affordability stress despite low nominal costs. Against the national average income of $74,755, Mellette residents earn 31% less while paying proportionally more for housing.
Low rent, but strained by low wages
Mellette County's 17.2% rent-to-income ratio exceeds South Dakota's state average of 13.8%, placing it among the state's least affordable despite $737 median rent below the state average of $756. The disconnect reflects wages that lag even rural South Dakota norms.
Cheap housing, challenging economics
Mellette County's $737 rent rivals Marshall County's price but strains renters far more due to the lowest household income ($51,364) in this eight-county cohort. Only McPherson County ($62,024) comes close to Mellette's income constraints, making both communities economically fragile.
Low rents mask income challenges
Renters spend $737 monthly while homeowners face $535 against just $51,364 annual income, meaning housing claims 17% of renter income and 13% of owner income. The renter burden approaches dangerous territory, leaving minimal room for food, healthcare, or transportation costs.
Affordability comes with trade-offs
Mellette County offers the region's most extreme affordability-to-income challenge: cheap rents ($737) and minimal home prices ($63,000), but paired with the lowest wages. Relocating professionals should verify employment opportunities exceed local norms, or this bargain may mask limited economic mobility.
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Mellette County
Rent Burden
17.2%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,198
per month
Owner Cost Burden
12.5%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Mellette County
Median home value is $63,000. Estimated monthly cost: $503 vs. your max of $1,198.
Rent Affordability Guide
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.