Surprise Valley TownshipSD
A town of 18.
Is Surprise Valley Township a good place to live?
Surprise Valley Township’s median age is 72.3 years, where South Dakota’s towns sit at 39.5 years and U.S. towns at 40.5 years. Of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare, none has a higher home-ownership rate than Surprise Valley Township. Surprise Valley Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
18 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Surprise Valley Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Surprise Valley Township, 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.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Surprise Valley Township.
Surprise Valley Township: snowy winters and hot summers
Only 3 of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare have a higher midsummer high than Surprise Valley Township. July afternoons reach 88°, January nights drop to 13° and about 40 inches of snow falls in a winter.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Compared with most of South Dakota and the rest of the country, more of Surprise Valley Township’s adults say their health is fair or poor
Among adults in Surprise Valley Township, 77% had a checkup this year, near the South Dakota town median (76%) and below the median of U.S. towns (79%). Of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults who report frequent mental distress than Surprise Valley Township. In addition, just over a fifth of Surprise Valley Township adults report frequent physical distress.
| Surprise Valley Township | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 16% | 19% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 14% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 47% | 35% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 10% | 12% |
| What stands out | Surprise Valley Township | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 14% | 18.8% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 35.1% | 12.7% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Moderate risk in Surprise Valley Township, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 55% of U.S. communities. 35% of Surprise Valley Township’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by cold waves at 24%.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
0% of Surprise Valley Township is conserved land
2.5 miles of trail. For Surprise Valley Township, the density of trails is 0.1 miles per square mile.
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Everything we know about Surprise Valley Township
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Surprise Valley Township; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Surprise Valley Township residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
Questions about Surprise Valley Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Surprise Valley Township, SD a good place to live?
Surprise Valley Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.