Merton TownshipSD
A town of 40.
Is Merton Township a good place to live?
Merton Township’s median age is 57.5 years, above both the South Dakota town median (39.5 years) and the median of U.S. towns (40.5 years). No town among the 36 in South Dakota we compare has a higher share of households owning their home than Merton Township. 57% of the land in Merton Township is conserved, above both South Dakota’s towns (3.3%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). Merton Township has 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Good Hope Lutheran Church. Merton Township 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 Merton Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Merton Township, 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.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Merton Township.
Merton Township has set aside nearly a third of its land for conservation
6.9 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Stairs Slough Game Production Area, at 705 acres. The trail density in Merton Township is 0.2 miles per square mile.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Stairs Slough Game Production Area | — | 705 |
| 2. Lamb Waterfowl Production Area | — | 388 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Merton Township
Merton Township has cold winters and pleasant summers. Merton Township’s July high is 82°F.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Merton Township faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by cold waves
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 61% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
How healthy Merton Township is
Merton Township beats the South Dakota average on 1 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 6. 27% of Merton Township adults get no exercise outside work. Among 36 South Dakota towns, just 3 have a higher share of adults who have diabetes than Merton Township.
| Merton Township | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 22% | 25% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 10% | 12% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 30% | 36% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 22% | 23% |
| What stands out | Merton Township | SD |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 79.5% | 75.9% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.4% | 6.8% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Everything we know about Merton Township
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Merton Township; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Merton Township residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
Questions about Merton Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Merton Township, SD a good place to live?
Merton Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.