#1Milbank
Grant County · 3,512 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 3.2 years of area income·Overall A · #5 of 35 in SD
Milbank, #1 on this list · Photo: Joel Bradshaw · CC BY-SA 3.0South Dakota rankings · Cost of living
Most affordable towns in South Dakota
Milbank ranks first on cost of living among South Dakota’s 35 towns of 2,500+; 4 of the 35 grade A− or better on cost of living nationally.
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). How grades work
#1A+
#2Canton
Lincoln County · 3,001 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 3.6 years of area income·Overall A− · #9 of 35 in SD
#3Lead
Lawrence County · 3,064 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 5.1 years of area income·Overall B+ · #13 of 35 in SD
All 35 towns
Cost of living grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
35 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeHome price · overall
19Blackhawkunincorporated, Meade County · 2,934 peopleB4.7 years of area income·Overall C+ · #29 of 35
20Rapid Valleyunincorporated, Pennington County · 6,975 peopleB−3.4 years of area income·Overall B− · #20 of 35
28Colonial Pine Hillsunincorporated, Pennington County · 2,609 peopleC5.4 years of area income·Overall C+ · #28 of 35
34Dakota Dunesunincorporated, Union County · 3,936 peopleC−7.5 years of area income·Overall A− · #10 of 35
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the most affordable town in South Dakota?
Milbank (Grant County) ranks first on cost of living among 35 towns, with an A+; Canton and Lead follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a cost of living grade (35 in South Dakota). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. 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 BrandonBest small towns21 towns · #1 LennoxSafest 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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