Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Aberdeen, SD

    Is Aberdeen a good place to live?

    Watch Aberdeen

    Aberdeen ranks #2 of 3 South Dakota cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (38/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.3% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $205,500
    +6.9% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $783
    per month
    Household income
    $63,715
    median
    Unemployment
    4.2%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Aberdeen

    The median home value in Aberdeen is $205,500 and median rent is $783 a month, against a median household income of $63,715. Homes cost about 3.2× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Aberdeen crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across South Dakota the 2025 rate was 327 violent and 1,430 property crimes per 100,000 people — #26 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Aberdeen, SD

    Aberdeen has about 28,297 residents, 4.2% unemployment and 25% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Aberdeen with

    Aberdeen vs Sioux FallsAberdeen vs Rapid City

    More: Where to move in South Dakota · Best counties in South Dakota

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report