Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 792, settled in 1879.
Estelline has 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Estelline Bandstand and Gazebo Park and Hoffelt Drug Store. Estelline has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 1911.
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Estelline, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Estelline.
Most working residents leave Estelline for work: only 11% work in town. In Estelline, the mean commuting time is 21 minutes, above South Dakota’s towns (17 minutes) but below U.S. towns (25 minutes). Since 2013, Estelline has added 20 jobs, to 249 in 2023. Half commute less than 24 miles.
| Estelline | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 11% | 29% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 17 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 7.6% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Its public schools are run by the Estelline School District 28-2. Below: Two of its 3 schools, each with why it was picked. The 3 public schools in Estelline teach 292 students between them.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estelline Elementary - 02Largest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 149 | B− |
| Estelline High School - 01Largest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 83 | D |
NCES · EDFacts
Estelline’s midsummer high is 82°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
82% of Estelline households live in a home they own, where South Dakota’s towns sit at 68% and U.S. towns at 73%. In the year to September 2026, typical home values climbed 9.3%. Among 34 South Dakota towns, just 3 have a lower median rent than Estelline.
| Estelline | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 82% | 68% | 73% |
| Median rent | $753 a month | $962 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Among adults in Estelline, 30% sleep under 7 hours. On the CDC’s 26 measures, Estelline is ahead of South Dakota on 1 and behind on 1.
| Estelline | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 22% | 23% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 15% | 17% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 30% | 36% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 19% | 16% |
| What stands out | Estelline | SD |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 79% | 75.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11% | 9.2% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
FEMA puts 46% of Estelline’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 18% to cold waves. On expected storm and flood damage, Estelline sits above 58% of U.S. communities. 7 flood insurance claims have been paid in the town since 1997.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
None within 15 miles of Estelline; the nearest are
About 2 of every 100 Estelline residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
Where Estelline’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
City in South Dakota, United States
Estelline is a city in Hamlin County, South Dakota, United States. It is part of the Watertown, South Dakota Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 749 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Estelline has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.