South Dakota is home to vast and varied landscapes like the stunning Badlands National Park and the towering Black Hills, alongside quaint and historic cities like Sturgis and Deadwood. With its outdoor activities and Old West heritage, South Dakota has many reasons that make it a great place to live. If you’ve been considering moving to South Dakota or buying a home in the state, you also probably have a budget you’d like to stay under as you look for a place to live. When it comes to buying a home in South Dakota the median home sale price is $375,000.
Don’t worry if that number doesn’t fit in your budget – we’ve got options to help you find a home or apartment that does. Redfin has rounded up a list of the 5 of the most affordable places to live in South Dakota, and they all have a median home sale price under the state’s average. Let’s jump in and see what cities are on the list.
#1: Aberdeen
Median home price: $218,950
Average sale price per square foot: $104
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $845
Median household income: $58,439
Nearest major metro: Fargo, ND (195 miles)
Aberdeen, SD homes for sale
Aberdeen, SD apartments for rent
With a median home sale price of $218,950, Aberdeen claims the first spot on our list of affordable places to live in South Dakota. About 28,600 people live in this city and it’s roughly 195 miles from the nearest metropolitan city, Fargo, ND. If you’re considering moving to this area make sure to explore Wylie Park where you’ll find Wylie Lake, a campground, and Storybook Land, or check out downtown Aberdeen.
#2: Brookings
Median home price: $265,000
Average sale price per square foot: $163
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $965
Median household income: $54,676
Nearest major metro: Sioux Falls (57 miles)
Brookings, SD homes for sale
Brookings, SD apartments for rent
Taking the second spot on our list of affordable cities to live in South Dakota is Brookings, about an hour drive north of Sioux Falls. When living in this city of 24,500 people, you can check out green spaces like Dakota Nature Park, Sexauer Park & Campground, and McCrory Gardens, explore the South Dakota Art Museum, and visit the downtown area.
#3: Rapid City
Median home price: $300,000
Average sale price per square foot: $200
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,230
Median household income: $58,072
Nearest major metro: Denver, CO (350 miles)
Rapid City, SD homes for sale
Rapid City, SD apartments for rent
Third is Rapid City where about 75,400 residents currently live. The median home sale price is $300,000 which is about $75K less than the median home sale price in South Dakota. If you find yourself moving to the third most affordable city in South Dakota, make sure to enjoy time outside exploring the Black Hills Caverns, or hiking, mountain biking, and taking in the scenery at Skyline Wilderness Area Park. You can also visit museums and sites like The Journey Museum & Learning Center, the Berlin Wall display, and the Museum of Geology.
#4: Watertown
Median home price: $310,000
Average sale price per square foot: $141
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $630
Median household income: $54,676
Nearest major metro: Fargo, ND (150 miles)
Watertown, SD homes for sale
Watertown, SD apartments for rent
A little more expensive than Rapid City is Watertown, the next city on our list. With a population close to 22,200, there’s still plenty to do in this city. Plan to check out Sandy Shore State Recreation Area along the shores of Lake Kampeska, visit Bramble Park Zoo, and explore the local shops and restaurants downtown.
#5: Sioux Falls
Median home price: $325,000
Average sale price per square foot: $182
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,017
Median household income: $54,676
Nearest major metro: Minneapolis, MN (270 miles)
Sioux Falls, SD homes for sale
Sioux Falls, SD apartments for rent
Consider adding Sioux Falls to your list of cities to consider living in if you’re looking for an affordable place to move to in South Dakota. With 181,900 residents, moving to this affordable city gives you the perks of city-life while still living close to nature. In Sioux Falls, you can visit Falls Park to see the waterfalls, check out the butterflies and animals at Butterfly House & Aquarium, and explore museums like the Old Courthouse Museum.
Methodology: All cities must have over 50,000 residents per the US Census and have a median home sale price under the average median home sale price in South Dakota. Median home sale price and median sale price per square foot from the Redfin Data Center during August 2023. Average rental data from Rent.com August 2023. Population and median household income data sourced from the United States Census Bureau.
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