SDMap-doton-Parkston, 2004
Parkston’s story
140 years in pictures
The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2004.
- 1886Parkston is settled
ParkstonSD
A town of 1,540, settled in 1886.
Population
1,540
2025 Census estimate · −1.3% since 2020
Typical home
$244K
+9% in a year
Household income
$70K
median
Median age
39.4
years
Jobs based here
726
Balanced
Is Parkston a good place to live?
Parkston’s best subject grades are an A+ for cost of living and an A− for walkability. On cost of living, just 3 of South Dakota’s 84 towns do better. Parkston has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Parkston stand out
Where Parkston beats most towns.
Typical home value
Parkston$244K
South Dakota$318K
Cost of livingA+
3.3 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 98% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
WalkabilityA−
More walkable than 80% of U.S. towns
4.8% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
How Parkston grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within South Dakota), ordered by how far Parkston is from typical.
Cost of livingA+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.2 of 20; 5.8% of households have no carA−Open →Jobs & income$70K median household income; 726 jobs based hereCOpen →HealthDouglas County Memorial Hospital-Cah 18.7 miles awayBOpen →SchoolsBOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trailC+Open →History2 notable people born hereC+Open →Civic life5.6 library visits per resident; 8 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Parkston: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Parkston, and how to reach them.
PowerXcel Energy13.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterParkston1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Parkston’s trash rules yet
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.govWho runs elections hereHutchinson County AuditorHutchinson County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2025
ZIP code5736657366 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 Parkston.
HousingCost of living grade A+
Homes in Parkston are worth about $244K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Parkston home is worth about $244,000, up 9% in a year, 23% below the South Dakota typical home. Parkston’s median rent is $717 a month, against $962 a month in South Dakota’s towns and $1,185 a month across U.S. towns.
$244KZillow home value
| Parkston | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $717 a month | $962 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 74% | 68% | 73% |
Typical home value
Parkston$244K
South Dakota$318K
+9%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsB
Parkston’s schools rank ahead of 59% of South Dakota districts
Its public schools are run by the Parkston School District 33-3. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
59%of SD districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parkston Elementary - 02Largest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 272 | B+ |
| Parkston High School - 01Largest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 112 | B+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within SD on state tests and graduation
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Parkston
Parkston has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 86°, January nights drop to 9° and about 39 inches of snow falls in a winter.
39″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter12–31°
Spring35–59°
Summer60–84°
Fall37–61°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 1
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthB
Parkston ranks healthier than 63% of the country’s towns
Parkston beats the South Dakota average on 1 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 5. 29% of Parkston adults sleep under 7 hours, close to South Dakota’s towns (30%) and below U.S. towns (36%). 14% of adults report frequent mental distress in Parkston.
63%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Parkston | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 30% | 36% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 15% | 17% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 31% | 35% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 22% | 23% |
26 measures vs. South Dakota
1 better20 too close to call5 worse
| What stands out | Parkston | SD |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 80.4% | 75.9% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 17.8% | 12.7% |
Douglas County Memorial Hospital-Cah
18.7 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
About one in three working residents works right in Parkston
About one in 3 of Parkston’s working residents works in town. The average trip to work in Parkston is 16 minutes. The top destinations are Mitchell (18%), Sioux Falls (12%) and Freeman (3%).
30%work in town
| Parkston | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 30% | 29% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 16 minutes | 17 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $70,000 | $72,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Parkston30%
Mitchell18%
Sioux Falls12%
Freeman3%
Susquehanna Township2%
22 mi
median commute distance
726
jobs based in Parkston
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 80% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Safety
Crime reported in Parkston
Parkston's reported crime rate is well below South Dakota's. Parkston’s property crime rate is 0.6 per 1,000 residents. Of the 25 South Dakota towns we compare, none has a lower violent crime rate than Parkston.
| Parkston | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 0.6 per 1,000 residents | 11.8 | 11.5 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 0.6 per 1,000 residents | 2.1 | 1.7 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Parkston0.6
South Dakota3.6
U.S.3.6
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Parkston0.6
South Dakota17.1
U.S.17.7
1
violent crimes reported in 2024
1
property crimes reported in 2024
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to police
Who lives here
An age mix much like South Dakota’s
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the South Dakota average. 27% of Parkston residents are under 18. 26% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 32% across South Dakota.
39.4median age · SD 38
| Parkston | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 27% | 22% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 26% | 33% | 29% |
ParkstonSouth DakotaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma8%
High school29%
Some college25%
Associate’s13%
Bachelor’s22%
Graduate4%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.5 points. Across South Dakota, 49.2% of residents are women.
| Parkston | SD | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 14.5% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 12.9% | 11.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.2% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 9.9% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 10.7% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12% | 10.7% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 13.1% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 11% | 11% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 7.6% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7.5% | 6.8% | 10.4% |
| High school | 29.2% | 29% | 26% |
| Some college | 25.1% | 19.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12.6% | 12.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 21.8% | 21.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 3.7% | 10% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,500, single groups can be off by several points
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Parkston faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 54% of U.S. communities. Since 2008, 6 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Parkston.
54risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtCold waves
6
paid flood claims since 2008
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
OutdoorsC+
Conserved land covers 0% of Parkston
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 829 acres
0.6 mi
of trails · 0.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. East Park | 0.4 mi | 16 |
| 2. Rose Bormann Memorial Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Parkston
20pages on Parkston
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 59% of SD districts · 4 schoolsSafety0.6 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2024)HealthBBetter than SD on 1 of 26 CDC measuresCost of livingA+$244K typical home · up 9% in a yearWork & commuteC$70K median household income · 726 jobs hereNatural hazardsC+FEMA risk higher than 54% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Parkston; the nearest are
Mitchell Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Mitchell20.4 mi$7,524 in-state tuitionDakota State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Madison61.1 mi$9,654 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Parkston residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
About Parkston
City in South Dakota, United States
Parkston is a city in Hutchinson County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,567 at the 2020 census. As of 2022, Tim Semmler is the city's current mayor.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1886
- Area
- 1.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,398 ft
- ZIP code
- 57366
- Area code
- 605
Parkston’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Parkston.
Susquehanna TownshipLiberty TownshipParkston
How the neighbors grade
| Town | SD rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parkston | — | — | A+ | — | B | B |
| Susquehanna Township | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Liberty Township | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Parkston has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Parkston reports no FBI crime data of its own. Susquehanna Township and Liberty Township aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Parkston with a neighbor →
Questions about Parkston
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Parkston, SD expensive?
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+.
What is Parkston, SD known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Riley Reiff and George Faust.