#2Lennox
Lincoln County · 2,657 peopleStrongest: schools A, safety A−·lowest: walkability C+
A−CostA−SafetyASchoolsA−HealthB+JobsC+WalkB−Hazards
Lennox, #1 on this list · Harney Hospital · Photo: Ammodramus · CC0South Dakota rankings · 2026
Best small towns in South Dakota
Lennox ranks first of South Dakota’s 21 graded small towns (2,500–9,999 residents), with an A+: schools (A) and safety (A−) are its strongest grades; walkability (C+) is its lowest. 8 of the 21 (38%) grade A− or better nationally, against 25% of U.S. towns.
The overall grade, sorted: cost of living, safety, schools, health, jobs & income, walkability and hazard risk, from Census, FBI, state, CDC, EPA and FEMA data. How grades work
#2A+
#3Dell Rapids
Minnehaha County · 3,852 peopleStrongest: schools A, health A·lowest: hazard risk C
BCost–SafetyASchoolsAHealthA−JobsB+WalkCHazards
#4Hartford
Minnehaha County · 3,635 peopleStrongest: jobs & income A, health A−·lowest: walkability B−
B+Cost–SafetyB+SchoolsA−HealthAJobsB−WalkA−Hazards
Where they are: Three of the top 10 are in Lincoln County.
All 21 small towns
Overall score, highest first. The score (0–100) blends the seven livability grades and sets the order; the letter places that score among every U.S. town of 2,500+, and A+ is the top 5%, so neighbors on the list often share a letter. Each town links to its page, where the grade sheet shows every subject. The rank is the town’s place among all 35 South Dakota towns.
21 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownScoreGradeWhat drives it
2LennoxLincoln County · 2,657 people75.0top 1.5%A+Strongest: schools A, safety A−·lowest: walkability C+
3Dell RapidsMinnehaha County · 3,852 people73.8top 2.3%A+Strongest: schools A, health A·lowest: hazard risk C
4HartfordMinnehaha County · 3,635 people73.0top 2.9%A+Strongest: jobs & income A, health A−·lowest: walkability B−
5MilbankGrant County · 3,512 people69.4top 7.8%AStrongest: cost of living A+, walkability A−·lowest: jobs & income C
6Split Rock TownshipMinnehaha County · 3,086 people67.4top 11.6%AStrongest: jobs & income A+, schools A·lowest: walkability D
7TeaLincoln County · 8,019 people65.6top 15.4%A−Strongest: jobs & income A, health A·lowest: cost of living C
9CantonLincoln County · 3,001 people63.5top 20.3%A−Strongest: cost of living A, walkability A−·lowest: hazard risk C−
10Dakota Dunesunincorporated, Union County · 3,936 people61.7top 24.9%A−Strongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk D
11Big Sioux TownshipUnion County · 5,152 people61.6top 25.2%B+Strongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk D
12MadisonLake County · 6,065 people60.9top 27.1%B+Strongest: walkability A−, health A−·lowest: jobs & income C
13LeadLawrence County · 3,064 people59.5top 30.7%B+Strongest: cost of living A−, safety B+·lowest: schools C−
14MobridgeWalworth County · 3,192 people59.2top 31.4%B+Strongest: walkability A−, cost of living B+·lowest: hazard risk C
20Rapid Valleyunincorporated, Pennington County · 6,975 people53.8top 45.7%B−Strongest: health B+, jobs & income B+·lowest: schools C
23Hot SpringsFall River County · 3,670 people52.1bottom 49.1%B−Strongest: safety A, walkability A−·lowest: hazard risk D
24North Sioux CityUnion County · 3,036 people52.0bottom 48.8%B−Strongest: health A−, schools A−·lowest: hazard risk D
26SummersetMeade County · 3,030 people51.1bottom 46.5%B−Strongest: health A−, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living C−
28Colonial Pine Hillsunincorporated, Pennington County · 2,609 people49.2bottom 41.5%C+Strongest: health A, walkability B·lowest: hazard risk C−
29Blackhawkunincorporated, Meade County · 2,934 people49.2bottom 41.5%C+Strongest: health A−, cost of living B·lowest: walkability D
30SturgisMeade County · 6,922 people47.9bottom 37.6%C+Strongest: walkability A, schools B·lowest: safety C−
31WinnerTripp County · 2,969 people46.6bottom 34.5%CStrongest: walkability B+, cost of living B+·lowest: jobs & income D
32Belle FourcheButte County · 5,791 people44.3bottom 28.5%CStrongest: walkability B, cost of living B·lowest: hazard risk C−
Method
How this list is made
Each town’s overall grade blends seven livability grades: cost of living (weight 18), safety (18), schools (16), health (14), jobs & income (12), walkability (8) and hazard risk (4). A town needs 2,500+ residents and three of the first four. Letters are national, so an A here means the same as an A in any state; the list is the same towns in the same order, ranked within South Dakota. Towns without their own FBI figures are graded on the rest and their page says why.
Data years: crime 2023–2025 (FBI), Census ACS 2020–2024, CDC PLACES 2025, state school tests. How grades work
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the best small town in South Dakota?
Among 21 graded towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents, Lennox (Lincoln County) ranks first, with an A+; schools (A) and safety (A−) are its strongest grades; walkability (C+) is its lowest. Dell Rapids and Hartford follow.
How are these towns ranked?
By the overall grade, which blends seven livability grades from public data. The letter is national; the rank is within South Dakota. The full method is on How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents with an overall grade (21 in South Dakota). 50 smaller places have subject grades only; Larger towns are on the best places to live list. Every town is on the South Dakota page.
Go deeper
All South Dakota rankings →More South Dakota lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live35 towns · #1 BrandonMost affordable towns35 towns · #1 MilbankSafest towns23 towns · #1 Hot SpringsTowns with the best schools35 towns · #1 Brandon and Split Rock TownshipHealthiest towns35 towns · #1 Dakota DunesBest towns for jobs & income35 towns · #1 Split Rock TownshipMost walkable towns35 towns · #1 SturgisTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk35 towns · #1 Split Rock TownshipBest towns for the outdoors35 towns · #1 SpearfishMost historic towns35 towns · #1 LeadTowns with the most civic life31 towns · #1 CantonTowns with the least snow35 towns · #1 Hot SpringsDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns35 towns · #1 LeadDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters37 towns · #1 SpearfishDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers37 towns · #1 WinnerDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers37 towns · #1 LeadDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes35 towns · #1 Split Rock TownshipDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes35 towns · #1 WinnerDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns30 towns · #1 HarrisburgDescribed, no lettersTowns with the most-used libraries15 towns · #1 CantonDescribed, no letters
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