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)
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 Mellette County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Mellette County ranks #358 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 11%)
Sourced county brief
Mellette County median home value estimated at $84,100
The median home value in Mellette County was estimated at $84,100, which is $96,921 below the South Dakota unweighted county mean of $181,021. The official rentBurdenGrapiPct (ACS B25071), which measures median gross rent as a percentage of household income, was 21.3%. This is 1.4 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean of 22.7%. Median gross rent for the county was $708 per month, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $785. Median selected monthly owner costs for owner-occupied units were $611, while the state unweighted county mean was $853. Renter households in the county had a median income of $38,382. These values represent census estimates for the five-year period from 2020 through 2024. See ACS table B25077 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: Mellette County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 21.3% of renter household income in Mellette 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 $708 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $611. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $28,320 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. Mellette County's $708 median is 9.8% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Mellette County
Rent Burden
15.7%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,262
per month
Owner Cost Burden
13.6%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Mellette County
Median home value is $84,100. Estimated monthly cost: $671 vs. your max of $1,262.
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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