WaubaySD
A town of 474, settled in 1885.
Is Waubay a good place to live?
24% of residents live below the poverty line in Waubay, above both the South Dakota town median (9.5%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare, none has a lower midsummer high than Waubay. Waubay has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
474 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Waubay: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Waubay, 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 Waubay.
40% of residents are 65 or older
A quarter of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 32% across South Dakota. In Waubay, the midpoint age is 53.3 years, against 39.5 years in South Dakota’s towns and 40.5 years across U.S. towns.
| Waubay | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.3 years | 39.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 25% | 33% | 29% |
Ages · share of residents
Education · adults 25 and older
Women and men · all residents
Somewhere between 43% and 68% women
The Census survey reached too few of Waubay’s residents to say more: its margin here is ±12.4 points. Across South Dakota, 49.2% of residents are women.
| Waubay | SD | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 3% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 18.1% | 11.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 2.4% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 3.3% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.2% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.4% | 10.7% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 8.6% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 24% | 11% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 16% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 9.7% | 6.8% | 10.4% |
| High school | 37.2% | 29% | 26% |
| Some college | 23.3% | 19.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 5% | 12.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 21.7% | 21.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 3.1% | 10% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 500, single groups can be off by several points
The schools Waubay’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by the Waubay School District 18-3. The 3 public schools in Waubay teach 177 students between them.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waubay Elementary - 02Largest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 88 | C+ |
| Waubay High School - 01Largest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 65 | A+ |
NCES · EDFacts
A typical January night in Waubay is colder than in the typical South Dakota or U.S. town
Winters in Waubay are cold, snowy and summers pleasant.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Waubay stands out in South Dakota and nationally, with the median rent lower than most
Over the 12 months to September 2026, the typical home gained 9% in value. Nearly three fifths of Waubay households live in a home they own.
| Waubay | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $603 a month | $962 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 59% | 68% | 73% |
Typical home value
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Waubay sends most of its workers out of town
Most people who work leave Waubay to do it: just 9% work in town. Jobs based in Waubay grew to 145 in 2023, 71 more than in 2013. The town’s typical journey to work is 13 minutes. The top destinations are Webster (15%), Watertown (6%) and Waubay Township (6%).
| Waubay | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 13 minutes | 17 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 9.2% | 29% | 8% |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
How healthy Waubay is
The share of adults in Waubay who have obesity: 37%. Against the South Dakota average, Waubay comes out ahead on 2 CDC measures out of 26, and behind on 11. 16% of adults in Waubay report frequent physical distress; 41% have high blood pressure. Only 2 of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare have a higher share of adults who say their health is fair or poor than Waubay.
| Waubay | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 10% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 12% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 31% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 19% | 16% |
| What stands out | Waubay | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 14.7% | 18.8% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.5% | 75.9% |
| More adults who have had a stroke | 5.3% | 3.5% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Moderate risk in Waubay, with inland flooding at the top
Since 1998, 87 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Waubay. On expected storm and flood damage, Waubay sits below nearly three fifths of U.S. communities. Expected losses in Waubay break down as 34% from inland flooding and 27% from cold waves. Households locally have drawn federal disaster aid in 6 declared disasters, most recently in 2023.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Surma-Jackson City Park | — | 16 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Everything we know about Waubay
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Waubay; the nearest are
About 2 of every 100 Waubay residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
Questions about Waubay
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Waubay, SD a good place to live?
Waubay has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.