Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
With 1,481 residents, it is a town in South Dakota.
North Eagle Butte’s best subject grade is an A− for cost of living; its weakest is a D− for incomes. 53% of residents live below the poverty line in North Eagle Butte, where South Dakota’s towns sit at 9.5% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. North Eagle Butte's public schools score at or near the bottom of South Dakota. No town in South Dakota scores higher than North Eagle Butte on hazard risk. North Eagle Butte has 1 place on the National Register. North Eagle Butte has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where North Eagle Butte beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
| Widest gap | North Eagle Butte | SD |
|---|---|---|
| More smokers | 35% | 15.2% |
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within South Dakota), ordered by how far North Eagle Butte is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 1,354 in 1980, 1,879 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2004 and a map from 1981 on.
Explore the history →North Eagle Butte is unincorporated, so Dewey 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.
Ordered by what stands out in North Eagle Butte.
No town among the 36 in South Dakota we compare has a higher share of adults who get no exercise outside work than North Eagle Butte. For adults locally, the share who say their health is fair or poor is 35%. Among 36 South Dakota towns, just 2 have a lower share of adults who had a checkup this year than North Eagle Butte. Two figures for adults here: 35% smoke cigarettes, 21% have diabetes.
| North Eagle Butte | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 35% | 16% | 19% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 35% | 14% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 10% | 12% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 15% | 17% |
| What stands out | North Eagle Butte | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 5.5% | 9.2% |
| More smokers | 35% | 15.2% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
The average trip to work for North Eagle Butte comes to 12 minutes. Jobs based in North Eagle Butte grew to 947 in 2023, 565 more than in 2013. The top destinations are Eagle Butte (21%), Timber Lake (4%) and Isabel (2%). Half of commuters travel less than 1 miles.
| North Eagle Butte | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 12 minutes | 17 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $34,000 | $72,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare, none has a lower natural-hazard score from FEMA than North Eagle Butte. Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 86% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Summer afternoons peak near 86° in July, and January nights bottom out around 9°; snowfall runs to about 37 inches a winter. North Eagle Butte has cold, snowy winters and warm summers, with very little rain.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
The trail density in North Eagle Butte is 0.2 miles per square mile. Trails run 2.0 miles in 1 park or preserve. One park or preserve covers 4 acres locally.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Veterans Memorial Park | 0.6 mi | 4 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of North Eagle Butte; the nearest are
About 2 of every 100 North Eagle Butte residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
Where North Eagle Butte’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Census-designated place in South Dakota, United States
North Eagle Butte is a census-designated place (CDP) in Dewey County, South Dakota, United States, along the 45th parallel. The population was 1,879 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.
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A−.