Hot Springs gives you more for your money than most places: a typical home costs about $333K, 4.9 years of the county’s $68K median household income. It grades B− overall, ranked 23rd of 35 in South Dakota. The low prices come with trade-offs. FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 78% of U.S. communities, with inland flooding at the top, and CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 76% of the country. On the plus side, crime is low: it reports less per resident than 89% of U.S. towns. 48% of working residents work locally in Hot Springs, above both South Dakota’s towns (29%) and U.S. towns (8%). On the outdoors, just 2 of South Dakota’s 85 towns do better. Hot Springs's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 87% of U.S. towns.

StrongestASafety AHistory ACivic lifeWeakestDHazard risk C⁻Health CJobs & income

What makes Hot Springs stand out

Where Hot Springs beats most towns.

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

76% less violent crime than SD

FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.

Battle Mountain Sanitarium, National Home For Disabled Volunteer Soldiers

HistoryA

Settled in 1883

8 places on the National Register

A history going back 143 years.

Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents

2.1 times the nonprofits per person

than the typical South Dakota town

Charities, civic groups and human services; churches not counted.

Get outside

6 miles of trails in Hot Springs

7.4% of the town is conserved land, across 8 parks and preserves.

Map of trails and conserved land in Hot Springs

ConservedTrails

Butler Park1 mi of trails · 28 acres

Directions

Upper Chautauqua Park3 acres

Lower Chautauqua Park2 acres

Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US

How Hot Springs grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within South Dakota), ordered by how far Hot Springs is from typical.

How grading works

SafetyAOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.4 of 20; 10.8% of households have no car; 7.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitA⁻Open →HealthFall River Hospital - Cah 0.5 miles awayC⁻Open →Jobs & income1,660 jobs based hereCOpen →SchoolsC⁺Open →Cost of livingBOpen →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors7% conserved landAOpen →History6 notable people born hereAOpen →Civic life7.7 library visits per resident; 16.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsAOpen →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 59.4–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Battle Mountain Sanitarium, National Home For Disabled Volunteer Soldiers · National Register of Historic Places

Hot Springs’s story

143 years in pictures

Battle Mountain Sanitarium, National Home For Disabled Volunteer Soldiers is a National Historic Landmark, the National Register’s top tier.

Census counts: 1,423 in 1890, a peak of 5,030 in 1950, 3,395 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1889 and 2 maps from 1950 on.

8 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1883Hot Springs is settled

Explore the history →

Getting set up

Moving to Hot Springs: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Hot Springs, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerBlack Hills Energy15.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterHot Springs water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet3 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpBy addressDay by addressTown site

SchoolsHot Springs School District 23-2Which school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteIn personSouth Dakota has no online registration; you can register in person until 15 days before Election Day or by mail (received 15 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereFall River County AuditorFall River County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2023

ZIP code5774757747 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Hot Springs.

Hot Springs is one of South Dakota’s best towns for the outdoors, sees little violent crime and has colder winter nights than most of the country, though not than most of South Dakota.

OutdoorsA

Conserved land covers 7.4% of Hot Springs

Its A for the outdoors ranks #3 of 35 in South Dakota.

6.0 miles of trail in 8 parks and preserves. Hot Springs’ trail density is 1.4 miles per square mile. Butler Park, at 28 acres with 1 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.

#5for trails in SD

	Hot Springs	South Dakota towns	U.S. towns
Miles of trail per square mile	1.4 miles per square mile	0.6	0.4
Conserved land	7.4%	3.2%	4.3%

7.4%

conserved · 204 of 2,771 acres

6.0 mi

of trails · 1.4 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Butler Park	1 mi	28
2. Upper Chautauqua Park	—	3
3. Lower Chautauqua Park	—	2

Full pageHot Springs’ outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map6.0 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk1 miles of trail · Butler Park Conserved land7.4% conserved · 204 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Hot Springs?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

SchoolsC⁺

Hot Springs’ schools rank behind 63% of South Dakota districts

Its public schools are run by the Hot Springs School District 23-2. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

37%of SD districts it outscoresC⁺School Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
Hot Springs Elementary - 02Largest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5	Grades PK–5	306	C⁺
Hot Springs High School - 01Largest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	215	C⁻

Full pageHot Springs’ schools pageOpen the page

The districtsHot Springs School District 23-2 Every school4 schools · Hot Springs Elementary - 02 Questions“Are Hot Springs’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within SD on state tests and graduation

SafetyA

Property crime in Hot Springs is lower than in the typical South Dakota or U.S. town

Violent crime is rare: 3 reported in 2025, 0.8 per 1,000 residents.

The property crime rate in Hot Springs is 0.8 per 1,000 residents.

89%of U.S. towns report more crimeASafety Grade

	Hot Springs	South Dakota towns	U.S. towns
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)	0.8 per 1,000 residents	10.6	9.9
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)	0.8 per 1,000 residents	2	1.6

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Hot Springs0.8

South Dakota3.3

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Hot Springs0.8

South Dakota14.3

U.S.15.5

89th

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

99th

percentile among SD towns

violent crimes reported in 2025

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageHot Springs’ safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type0.8 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsSteady since 2023 Questions“Is Hot Springs, SD safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

Who lives here

Hot Springs stands out in South Dakota and nationally: the median age there is higher

13% of residents are under 18 in Hot Springs. Hot Springs has grown 8.2% since 2020, to 3,670 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. Among 35 South Dakota towns, just 1 have a higher median age than Hot Springs.

59.4median age · SD 38

	Hot Springs	South Dakota towns	U.S. towns
Median age	59.4 years	39.5 years	40.5 years
Under 18	13%	22%	22%

Hot SpringsSouth DakotaUnited States

SDU.S.

Ages · share of residents

21%

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma13%

High school24%

Some college21%

Associate’s14%

Bachelor’s17%

Graduate12%

Women and men · all residents

54% women, 46% men

About 86 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±3.7 points). Across South Dakota, 49.2% of residents are women.

Ages and education in Hot Springs
	Hot Springs	SD	U.S.
Under 10	6.8%	13.1%	11.6%
10 to 17	5.8%	11.2%	10.3%
18 to 24	3.5%	9.3%	9.1%
25 to 34	10.7%	12.6%	13.7%
35 to 44	6.3%	12.6%	13.2%
45 to 54	12%	10.7%	12.2%
55 to 64	17.2%	12.6%	12.7%
65 to 74	21%	11%	10.2%
75 and older	16.7%	7%	7%
No diploma	12.9%	6.8%	10.4%
High school	23.8%	29%	26%
Some college	20.5%	19.9%	19.1%
Associate’s	13.9%	12.3%	8.8%
Bachelor’s	17.1%	21.9%	21.6%
Graduate	11.8%	10%	14.1%

Full pageHot Springs by the numbersOpen the page

Ages59.4 median age · 38% are 65 or older Schooling29% have a four-year degree Homes62% own their home · Homeowners Income$66K a year · Median household income

Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 3,700, single groups can be off by several points

HealthC⁻

For health, Hot Springs earns a C−

17% of Hot Springs adults have diabetes. Of the 35 South Dakota towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults who get no exercise outside work than Hot Springs. 44% of Hot Springs adults have high blood pressure.

25%healthier than U.S. townsC⁻Health Grade

	Hot Springs	South Dakota towns	U.S. towns
Diabetes (CDC PLACES)	17%	10%	12%
High blood pressure (CDC PLACES)	44%	31%	35%
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)	16%	12%	14%
Binge drink (CDC PLACES)	14%	19%	16%

26 measures vs. South Dakota

4 better9 too close to call13 worse

What stands out	Hot Springs	SD
Fewer binge drinkers	14.4%	18.8%
More adults treating high blood pressure	82.1%	75.9%
More adults with heart disease	11.4%	6.8%

Fall River Hospital - Cah

0.5 mi away · emergency room

3 of 3

care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health

Full pageHot Springs’ health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore adults who get no exercise Hospitals & doctors nearby0.5 miles to an ER · Fall River Hospital - Cah How adults are doingMore adults in fair or poor health Every CDC estimateBetter than SD on 4 of 26

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D

High risk in Hot Springs, with inland flooding at the top

One flood insurance claim has been paid in Hot Springs since 1988.

78risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingWildfireCold waves

paid flood claims since 1988

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageHot Springs’ hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesHigh risk Flood claimsSince 1988 Past disasters5 federal disasters · Paid out in Hot Springs Get ready1 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

In Hot Springs, expect four seasons and pleasant summers

January nights average 13.9°: colder than most of the country, but milder than 98% of South Dakota places with climate records; July afternoons average 87.2°.

Hot Springs has cold, snowy winters and warm summers, with very little rain. Among 35 South Dakota towns, just 3 have a higher July high than Hot Springs. About 32 inches of snow falls in a winter.

32″snow a winter

	Hot Springs	South Dakota towns	U.S. towns
January low	14°F	9°F	22°F
July high	87°F	85°F	85°F

Typical low → high °F

Winter15–39°

Spring32–59°

Summer55–84°

Fall34–62°

Sep 27

typical first frost

May 16

typical last frost

+1.2°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageHot Springs’ climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 87°, January lows 14°Rain & snow32″ of snow a winter · 18 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+1.2° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Work & commuteJobs & income grade C

With 1.3 jobs for every working resident, Hot Springs draws in 1,071 commuters

The top destinations are Rapid City (10%), Pierre (4%) and Sioux Falls (3%). Half commute less than 2 miles.

48%work in town

	Hot Springs	South Dakota towns	U.S. towns
Below the poverty line	21%	9.5%	9.6%
Average trip to work	14 minutes	17 minutes	25 minutes
Median household income	$66,000	$72,000	$80,000

Where working residents work

In Hot Springs48%

Rapid City10%

Pierre4%

Sioux Falls3%

Edgemont2%

2 mi

median commute distance

1,660

jobs based in Hot Springs

Balanced

jobs vs. working residents

A−

Walkability grade: more walkable than 78% of U.S. towns

Full pageHot Springs’ work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here1,660 jobs based here · Balanced Where people work48% work in Hot Springs Commute times14 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 2 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

HousingCost of living grade B

For cost of living, Hot Springs earns a B

The typical Hot Springs home is worth about $333,000, down 0.6% in a year, close to the South Dakota typical home.

$333KZillow home value

	Hot Springs	South Dakota towns	U.S. towns
Households that own their home	62%	68%	73%
Median rent	$897 a month	$963 a month	$1,185 a month

Typical home value

Hot Springs$333K

South Dakota$318K

−0.6%

value change, 1 year

Full pageHot Springs’ housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsDown 0.6% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 5.0 years of income Rents$897 a month · Median rent

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Hot Springs

20pages on Hot Springs

The big questions

SchoolsC⁺Behind 63% of SD districts · 4 schools SafetyA0.8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthC⁻Better than SD on 4 of 26 CDC measures Cost of livingB$333K typical home · down 0.6% in a year Work & commuteC$66K median household income · 1,660 jobs here Natural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 78% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

OutdoorsA6 mi of trails · 7% conserved land PlacesAttractions22 nearby · Mammoth Site, Hot Springs under 1 mi LibraryA7.7 library visits per resident Colleges

The story

HistoryASettled 1883 · 8 on the National Register Famous people6 born in Hot Springs Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 78 residents Climate87° summer highs · 32″ of snow

Day to day

News2 recent stories about Hot Springs WeatherHandbookZIP code 57747 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

None within 15 miles of Hot Springs; the nearest are

South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyUniversity or college · Public · Rapid City47.2 mi$10,500 in-state tuition Western Dakota Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Rapid City47.6 mi$8,294 in-state tuition

About 1 of every 100 Hot Springs residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

Landmarks

8 places in Hot Springs on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

Battle Mountain Sanitarium, National Home For Disabled Volunteer SoldiersNational Historic Landmark

Hot Springs High School

Phillip Wesch HouseBuilt 1890

Governor Leslie Jensen House

Famous people from Hot Springs

6 notable people were born in Hot Springs.

See all 6 →

Jess ThomasAmerican opera singer · 1927–1993

Leslie JensenAmerican politician · 1892–1964

Dan DrydenAmerican politician · 1944–2016

Charles HargensAmerican artist · 1893–1997

Gary BonerAmerican football player · 1940–2005

Bob TannerAmerican politician · 1930–2024

About Hot Springs

City in South Dakota, United States

Official town website ↗

Hot Springs (Lakota: mni kȟáta; "hot water") is a city in and the county seat of Fall River County, South Dakota, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 3,395. In addition, neighboring Oglala Lakota County contracts the duties of Auditor, Treasurer and Register of Deeds to the Fall River County authority in Hot Springs.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Area: 3.5 sq mi
Elevation: 3,448 ft
ZIP code: 57747
Area code: 605

Questions about Hot Springs

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Hot Springs, SD a good place to live?

Hot Springs grades B− overall, better than 49% of U.S. towns and #23 of 35 in South Dakota. It grades C− for health, A for safety and C+ for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D.

Is Hot Springs, SD expensive?

Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.

What is Hot Springs, SD known for?

6 notable people were born here, including Jess Thomas and Leslie Jensen.

Post to Hot Springs

Check your email

Hot SpringsSD

Is Hot Springs a good place to live?

What makes Hot Springs stand out

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents

6 miles of trails in Hot Springs

How Hot Springs grades

143 years in pictures

Moving to Hot Springs: who provides what

The data

Conserved land covers 7.4% of Hot Springs

Hot Springs’ schools rank behind 63% of South Dakota districts

Property crime in Hot Springs is lower than in the typical South Dakota or U.S. town

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Hot Springs stands out in South Dakota and nationally: the median age there is higher

Ages · share of residents

Education · adults 25 and older

Women and men · all residents

For health, Hot Springs earns a C−

High risk in Hot Springs, with inland flooding at the top

In Hot Springs, expect four seasons and pleasant summers

Typical low → high °F

With 1.3 jobs for every working resident, Hot Springs draws in 1,071 commuters

Where working residents work

For cost of living, Hot Springs earns a B

Typical home value

Everything we know about Hot Springs

Colleges nearby

Landmarks

Famous people from Hot Springs

About Hot Springs

Questions about Hot Springs