Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 127, settled in 1905.
Only 3 of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare have a lower income of the median household than Reliance. Reliance has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 192 in 1910, a peak of 317 in 1920, 128 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and a map from 1986 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Reliance, 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 Reliance.
Among 36 South Dakota towns, just 2 have a higher natural-hazard score from FEMA than Reliance. FEMA puts 48% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 33% to cold waves. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 85% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Half commute less than 23 miles. Reliance’s average commute is 19 minutes. 3.8% of residents live below the poverty line here, against 9.5% in South Dakota’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. The top destinations are Oacoma (16%), Presho (8%) and Sioux Falls (8%).
| Reliance | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 3.8% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 19 minutes | 17 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
The peak summer temperature for Reliance comes to 88°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
13% of adults have diabetes in Reliance, where South Dakota’s towns sit at 10% and U.S. towns at 12%. Reliance: 37% of adults have high blood pressure. Only 2 of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare have a lower share of adults who report frequent mental distress than Reliance. On the CDC’s 26 measures, Reliance is ahead of South Dakota on 2 and behind on 1.
| Reliance | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 15% | 17% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 30% | 36% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 22% | 23% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 31% | 35% |
| What stands out | Reliance | SD |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 80% | 75.9% |
| More adults getting cholesterol checked | 88.4% | 84.8% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11.4% | 9.2% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
None within 15 miles of Reliance; the nearest are
College town 18 of every 100 Reliance residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
Where Reliance’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Town in South Dakota, United States
Reliance is a town in Lyman County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 128 at the 2020 census. Reliance was laid out in 1905.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Reliance has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.