Quick answer
South Dakota can be a good place to live in 2027 if its numbers fit your life: the app's top-scoring places have a median home value of $243,600, rent of $904/month and household income of $63,715, and the state's violent crime rate (327 per 100k, 2025) is above the median state. South Dakota has no state tax on wage income. Start your research with Sioux Falls, Watertown, Aberdeen.
Median home value
$243,600
Top-scoring places
Median rent
$904/mo
Household income
$63,715
Violent crime / 100k
327
South Dakota, 2025
Population change
+1.8%
Tracked places + counties
Home value change
+8.6%
State wage income tax
None
Home value ÷ income
3.8×
| Place | Score | Home value | Rent | Income | Pop. change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD | 75 | $271,400 | $993 | $74,714 | +2.2% |
| Watertown, SD | 50 | $212,300 | $904 | $62,721 | +0.6% |
| Aberdeen, SD | 44 | $205,500 | $783 | $63,715 | -0.3% |
| Brookings, SD | 44 | $243,600 | $862 | $61,979 | +0.8% |
| Rapid City, SD | 38 | $270,000 | $1,053 | $65,712 | +1.6% |
| Place | Score | Home value | Rent | Income | Pop. change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsbury County | 71 | $159,600 | $725 | $70,221 | +0.7% |
| Lincoln County | 69 | $323,500 | $1,237 | $96,552 | +3.8% |
| Hamlin County | 68 | $207,700 | $769 | $83,194 | +1.5% |
| Spink County | 68 | $117,400 | $691 | $73,011 | -1.1% |
| Turner County | 64 | $199,000 | $745 | $75,283 | +1.0% |
| McCook County | 63 | $217,300 | $750 | $80,847 | +0.3% |
Verdict factors to check before you decide
- 1Price the whole address: taxes, insurance, utilities and HOA, not just the listing.
- 2Confirm the exact city, county and school assignment for the address.
- 3Drive the commute at the hours you will actually travel.
- 4Check flood, heat and storm exposure on official maps.
- 5Compare crime at the jurisdiction level, then visit at night.
Frequently asked questions
Is South Dakota a Good Place to Live in 2027?
South Dakota can be a good place to live in 2027 if its numbers fit your life: the app's top-scoring places have a median home value of $243,600, rent of $904/month and household income of $63,715, and the state's violent crime rate (327 per 100k, 2025) is above the median state. South Dakota has no state tax on wage income. Start your research with Sioux Falls, Watertown, Aberdeen.
What are the best places to live in South Dakota?
In the Smart Movers Club app, the top-scoring South Dakota cities are Sioux Falls, Watertown, Aberdeen, Brookings, Rapid City, and the top counties are Kingsbury County, Lincoln County, Hamlin County, Spink County. Scores combine income, housing, growth, employment and education.
Does South Dakota have a state income tax?
South Dakota does not tax wage income at the state level. Property, sales and other local taxes still apply, so compare the full cost.
Where does this data come from?
Figures come from the Smart Movers Club app, which compiles U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey estimates and FBI state crime rates. Census figures are survey estimates, not live listing prices.
