Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Murdo State Bank is on the National Register of Historic Places. Murdo has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Murdo beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 372 in 1910, a peak of 865 in 1970, 475 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 1930 and 2 maps from 1972 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Murdo, 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 Murdo.
In Murdo, the median age is 33.7 years, below both South Dakota’s towns (39.5 years) and U.S. towns (40.5 years). Adults 35 to 64 are 24% of residents (36% statewide); people 65 and older are 24% of residents (18% statewide). Murdo: nearly a quarter of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more.
| Murdo | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.7 years | 39.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 24% | 33% | 29% |
51% women, 49% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±8.3 points. Across South Dakota, 49.2% of residents are women.
| Murdo | SD | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 18.7% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.4% | 11.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.2% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 15.2% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 5% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.9% | 10.7% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 7.8% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 9.8% | 11% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 14% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 8.2% | 6.8% | 10.4% |
| High school | 39.4% | 29% | 26% |
| Some college | 15.7% | 19.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 13% | 12.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 17.8% | 21.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 5.9% | 10% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 500, single groups can be off by several points
Its three schools are below. The Jones County School District 37-3 runs its public schools. Also worth knowing: 3 public schools serve Murdo, with 180 students in all.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jones County Elementary - 02Largest public elementary schoolGrades K–4 | Grades K–4 | 74 | B+ |
| Jones County High School - 01Largest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 49 | A+ |
| Jones County Middle School - 04Top results in townGrades 5–8 | Grades 5–8 | 57 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts
The July high is 88°F, against 85°F in South Dakota’s towns and 85°F across U.S. towns.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Only 2 of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare have a higher share of residents below the poverty line than Murdo. Just over two fifths of the town’s working residents work right in town. This South Dakota town had 216 jobs in 2023, down 65 from 2013. In Murdo, the mean commuting time is 12 minutes.
| Murdo | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 41% | 29% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 22% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 12 minutes | 17 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $67,000 | $72,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
In Murdo, 29% of adults sleep under 7 hours. Only 3 of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare have a higher share of adults who report frequent physical distress than Murdo. 14% of adults in the town have diabetes; 38% have high blood pressure.
| Murdo | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 30% | 36% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 10% | 12% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 31% | 35% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 14% | 14% |
| What stands out | Murdo | SD |
|---|---|---|
| More adults who have had a stroke | 4.4% | 3.5% |
| More adults with COPD | 8.4% | 6.7% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.5% | 6.8% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 52% of U.S. communities. Of the losses FEMA expects in Murdo, 45% come from inland flooding and 17% from cold waves. Federal disaster aid has reached households in Murdo after 2 declared disasters, most recently in 2022.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
None within 15 miles of Murdo; the nearest are
About 2 of every 100 Murdo residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
City in South Dakota, United States
Murdo is a city in and the county seat of Jones County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 475 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.
Murdo has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
