IdealSD
Today 40 people live in this town, first settled in 1909.
Is Ideal a good place to live?
33% of residents live below the poverty line in Ideal, against 9.5% in South Dakota’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. No town among the 36 in South Dakota we compare has a higher midsummer high than Ideal. Ideal has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
40 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Ideal: who provides what
Ideal is unincorporated, so Tripp County and regional agencies provide most services.
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 Ideal.
Ideal faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Of the losses FEMA expects in Ideal, 44% come from inland flooding and 30% from cold waves. Expected damage from storms and floods is higher here than in 69% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
A larger share of adults in Ideal smoke cigarettes than in the typical South Dakota or U.S. town
Among 36 South Dakota towns, just 2 have a lower share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Ideal. The share of adults in Ideal who binge drink: 18%.
| Ideal | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 14% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 10% | 12% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 22% | 23% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 16% | 19% |
| What stands out | Ideal | SD |
|---|---|---|
| More smokers | 18.7% | 15.2% |
| More adults who have had a stroke | 4.2% | 3.5% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.1% | 6.8% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Everything we know about Ideal
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Ideal; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Ideal residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
About Ideal
Unincorporated community in South Dakota, United States
Ideal is an unincorporated community in northern Tripp County, South Dakota, United States. It lies north of the city of Winner, the county seat. Its elevation is 1,886 feet (575 m). The population of the CDP was 86 at the 2020 census. Ideal's town site was considered to be "ideal" for farming, hence the name.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Elevation
- 1,886 ft
- ZIP code
- 57541
Questions about Ideal
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Ideal, SD a good place to live?
Ideal has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.