Best counties to live in South Dakota

Written by:
April 8, 2024
Laura Beach // Shutterstock

Best counties to live in South Dakota

More counties in the United States experienced population growth in the last year, according to the latest Census data, even as pandemic-related moving trends begin to normalize.

Counties in the South continued to experience growth, particularly in Florida, where 96% of its 67 counties gained new residents. Polk County, Florida, a suburb of Orlando, added the most, with 26,000 people moving there in 2023.

Meanwhile, counties in the Midwest and Northeast continued to lose population, but at slower rates than the year before. Some of the biggest losses were in counties home to large cities, including Cook County, Illinois (home of Chicago) and the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in New York.

Many counties are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or relatively affordable housing costs. Others are favored for their historic or well-designed downtowns or access to cultural opportunities.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in South Dakota using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by various factors including public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.

Keep reading to see if your county made the list.

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Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

#30. Tripp County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 5,607
- Median household income: $56,758
- Median home value: $128,100 (71% own)
- Median rent: $800 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Winner High School (grade B), Winner Elementary School (grade B minus), Winner Middle School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Winner (grade B minus), Colome (grade B minus), Lamro Township (grade B minus)

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Bennekom // Shutterstock

#29. Bon Homme County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 7,018
- Median household income: $57,554
- Median home value: $112,700 (76% own)
- Median rent: $702 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Tyndall Elementary School (grade B+), Bon Homme Middle School (grade B), Avon Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Scotland (grade B+), Springfield (grade B+), Tyndall (grade B)

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#28. Codington County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 28,402
- Median household income: $65,747
- Median home value: $206,600 (67% own)
- Median rent: $863 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Lincoln Elementary School (grade A minus), Mellette Elementary School (grade B+), Watertown Junior High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Great Plains Lutheran High School (grade B), Immaculate Conception School (grade unavailable), St. Martin's Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Watertown (grade B+), Kranzburg Township (grade B), Elmira Township (grade B)

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#27. Roberts County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 10,242
- Median household income: $59,022
- Median home value: $127,800 (68% own)
- Median rent: $596 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Sisseton High School (grade B minus), Summit High School (grade B minus), Westside Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Lawrence Township (grade B), Sisseton (grade B), Rosholt (grade B)

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Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

#26. Hamlin County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 6,196
- Median household income: $76,995
- Median home value: $181,800 (81% own)
- Median rent: $717 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Hamlin High School (grade B+), Hamlin Elementary School (grade B+), Estelline Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Brantford Township (grade A), Cleveland Township (grade A minus), Norden Township (grade B+)

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#25. Custer County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 8,515
- Median household income: $75,943
- Median home value: $294,700 (86% own)
- Median rent: $948 (14% rent)
- Top public schools: Custer High School (grade B), Custer Middle School (grade B), Custer Elementary School (grade C+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Custer (grade B+), Hermosa (grade B), Pringle (grade C)

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Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

#24. Turner County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 8,687
- Median household income: $72,312
- Median home value: $175,300 (79% own)
- Median rent: $691 (21% rent)
- Top public schools: Parker High School (grade B+), Parker Junior High School (grade B+), Centerville Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Parker Township (grade A minus), Swan Lake Township (grade B+), Centerville (grade B+)

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#23. Kingsbury County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: 1,334
- Population: 5,172
- Median household income: $65,964
- Median home value: $149,300 (80% own)
- Median rent: $681 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Arlington Elementary School (grade A minus), Arlington Junior High School (grade A minus), Lake Preston Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Sunny Plains Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Lake Preston (grade B+), Oldham (grade B+), Arlington (grade B)

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Patrick Ziegler // Shutterstock

#22. McCook County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: 1,299
- Population: 5,714
- Median household income: $74,873
- Median home value: $186,100 (82% own)
- Median rent: $778 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Canistota Elementary School (grade A minus), Canistota Middle School (grade B+), Bridgewater-Emery Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Salem St. Mary's Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Grant Township (grade A), Bridgewater Township (grade A), Canistota (grade B+)

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Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

#21. Spink County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: 1,277
- Population: 6,355
- Median household income: $65,795
- Median home value: $108,200 (74% own)
- Median rent: $651 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Northwestern Middle School (grade B+), Northwestern Elementary School (grade B+), Doland Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Northville Township (grade A minus), Northville (grade A minus), Redfield Township (grade B)

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#20. Grant County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: 1,037
- Population: 7,533
- Median household income: $70,851
- Median home value: $168,500 (81% own)
- Median rent: $493 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Big Stone City Middle School (grade A), Big Stone City Elementary School (grade A minus), Milbank Middle School (grade B)
- Top private schools: St. Lawrence School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Milbank (grade A minus), Melrose Township (grade B+), Big Stone City (grade B)

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vagabond54 // Shutterstock

#19. Day County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: 1,005
- Population: 5,485
- Median household income: $57,558
- Median home value: $134,800 (75% own)
- Median rent: $594 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Webster Area Middle School (grade A minus), Webster Area Elementary School (grade B+), Waubay Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Webster Township (grade B+), Webster (grade B+), Roslyn (grade B)

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J K Laws // Shutterstock

#18. Davison County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: 918
- Population: 19,966
- Median household income: $55,606
- Median home value: $178,100 (63% own)
- Median rent: $772 (37% rent)
- Top public schools: Mitchell High School (grade A minus), Longfellow Elementary School (grade A minus), L.B. Williams Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Mitchell Christian School (grade B+), John Paul II Elementary School (grade unavailable), Abbott House (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Mitchell (grade B+), Prosper Township (grade B), Mount Vernon (grade B)

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#17. Beadle County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: 906
- Population: 19,089
- Median household income: $63,813
- Median home value: $152,100 (70% own)
- Median rent: $807 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Wolsey Wessington High School (grade B), Hitchcock-Tulare Elementary School (grade B), Huron High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: James Valley Christian School (grade B), Holy Trinity Catholic Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Huron (grade B+), Valley Township (grade A minus), Wolsey (grade B)

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#16. Lawrence County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: 738
- Population: 26,047
- Median household income: $62,977
- Median home value: $267,900 (66% own)
- Median rent: $888 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Creekside Elementary School (grade B+), Spearfish High School (grade B), Whitewood Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Black Hills Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Black Hills Classical Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Chrildren First (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Spearfish (grade A minus), Deadwood (grade B), Lead (grade B minus)

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#15. Yankton County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: 699
- Population: 23,311
- Median household income: $68,847
- Median home value: $190,400 (70% own)
- Median rent: $765 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Yankton Middle School - 02 (grade B), Lincoln Elementary School (grade B), Beadle Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Sacred Heart School (grade unavailable), Sacred Heart Middle School - (grade unavailable), Missouri Valley Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Yankton (grade A minus), Gayville (grade B minus), Mission Hill (grade C+)

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Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

#14. Moody County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: 690
- Population: 6,346
- Median household income: $71,469
- Median home value: $194,000 (70% own)
- Median rent: $644 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Colman-Egan Junior High School (grade B), Flandreau High School (grade B), Colman Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Flandreau Township (grade B+), Grovena Township (grade B+), Flandreau (grade B+)

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Danita Delimont // Shutterstock

#13. Hutchinson County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: 681
- Population: 7,401
- Median household income: $69,139
- Median home value: $143,800 (77% own)
- Median rent: $660 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Parkston High School (grade A minus), Parkston Elementary School (grade A minus), Freeman High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Freeman Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places: Parkston (grade A minus), Freeman (grade A minus), Wittenberg Township (grade A minus)

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#12. Charles Mix County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: 613
- Population: 9,302
- Median household income: $60,729
- Median home value: $163,200 (74% own)
- Median rent: $713 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Platte-Geddes Elementary School (grade A), Platte-Geddes High School (grade A minus), Wagner High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Platte (grade B+), Plain Center Township (grade B), Geddes (grade B)

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#11. Clay County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: 590
- Population: 14,953
- Median household income: $55,963
- Median home value: $209,300 (51% own)
- Median rent: $758 (49% rent)
- Top public schools: Vermillion Middle School (grade B+), Vermillion High School (grade B minus), Jolley Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: St. Agnes Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Vermillion (grade A minus), Meckling Township (grade A minus), Norway Township (grade B+)

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#10. Brule County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: 582
- Population: 5,247
- Median household income: $64,821
- Median home value: $187,900 (65% own)
- Median rent: $755 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Kimball Elementary School (grade B+), Chamberlain High School (grade B), Kimball Junior High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: St. Joseph Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Chamberlain (grade A minus), Kimball (grade B+), Pukwana (grade B)

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Sabrina Janelle Gordon // Shutterstock

#9. Union County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: 531
- Population: 16,700
- Median household income: $82,036
- Median home value: $254,900 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,008 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Dakota Valley Elementary School (grade A), Dakota Valley High School (grade B+), Dakota Valley Junior High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Dakota Dunes (grade A), North Sioux City (grade B+), Big Sioux Township (grade A)

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#8. Walworth County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: 528
- Population: 5,317
- Median household income: $57,697
- Median home value: $115,900 (73% own)
- Median rent: $832 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Mobridge High School (grade A minus), Mobridge Middle School (grade A minus), Selby Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Mobridge (grade A), Java (grade B), Selby (grade B)

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#7. Lake County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: 516
- Population: 11,207
- Median household income: $74,884
- Median home value: $196,600 (73% own)
- Median rent: $819 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Oldham-Ramona Elementary School (grade A), Rutland Junior High School (grade B+), Madison Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Thomas School (grade unavailable), Madison Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Madison (grade A minus), Summit Township (grade A), Ramona (grade A minus)

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#6. Pennington County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: 467
- Population: 110,386
- Median household income: $67,823
- Median home value: $247,800 (69% own)
- Median rent: $996 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Southwest Middle School (grade B+), Stevens High School (grade B+), Hill City Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Rapid City Catholic School System (grade A minus), Rapid City Christian School (grade B), St. Elizabeth Seton School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Rapid City (grade B+), Box Elder (grade B), Colonial Pine Hills (grade B)

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#5. Brookings County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: 401
- Population: 34,631
- Median household income: $64,438
- Median home value: $227,800 (58% own)
- Median rent: $870 (42% rent)
- Top public schools: Sioux Valley High School (grade A minus), Brookings High School (grade B+), Medary Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Volga Christian School (grade unavailable), Early Learning Center of Brookings managed by Bright Horizons (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Brookings (grade A), Medary Township (grade B+), Bruce (grade B+)

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Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

#4. Brown County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: 343
- Population: 38,278
- Median household income: $70,379
- Median home value: $200,400 (66% own)
- Median rent: $748 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Warner Middle School (grade A), Warner Elementary School (grade A), Frederick Junior High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Aberdeen Christian School - Elementary Campus (grade B), Roncalli Middle/Senior High School (grade B minus), Roncalli Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Aberdeen (grade B+), Groton (grade A minus), Ordway Township (grade B+)

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#3. Lincoln County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: 296
- Population: 65,801
- Median household income: $92,317
- Median home value: $292,200 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,206 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Endeavor Elementary - 07 (grade A), Harrisburg North Middle School - 08 (grade A minus), Tea Area Venture Elementary - 06 (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Sioux Falls Christian Schools (grade B), Sioux Falls Lutheran School (grade B), Central Baptist Preschool & Kindergarten (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Tea (grade A minus), Harrisburg (grade B+), Canton (grade B)

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Steven Frame // Shutterstock

#2. Minnehaha County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: 218
- Population: 197,742
- Median household income: $73,110
- Median home value: $246,200 (63% own)
- Median rent: $927 (37% rent)
- Top public schools: Valley Springs Elementary School (grade A), Brandon Valley Middle School (grade A), Fred Assam Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: O'Gorman High School (grade A minus), Saint Mary Catholic Schools (grade B), Holy Spirit Elementary (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Brandon (grade A), Sioux Falls (grade A), Dell Rapids (grade B+)

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#1. Hughes County, South Dakota

- Overall Rank: 211
- Population: 17,812
- Median household income: $83,750
- Median home value: $216,500 (73% own)
- Median rent: $920 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Blunt Elementary School (grade A), T.F. Riggs High School (grade B+), Buchanan Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Joseph Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Pierre (grade A minus), Blunt (grade B)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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