Moving to South Dakota?

Quick facts to know before moving to South Dakota

• South Dakota’s cost of living is lower than the U.S. average
• The average cost of homes in South Dakota are lower than the U.S. average
• South Dakota’s unemployment rates are lower than the U.S. average
• South Dakota has no personal income and corporate income tax
• South Dakota gets an average of 213 sunny days per year
• The property crime rate in South Dakota is lower than the U.S. average

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Top 10 Reasons to move to South Dakota

Thousands of people move to South Dakota every year for various reasons.

Since you’re considering moving to South Dakota, we’ve made a list of the top ten reasons why people are moving to the state. Check out the list below:

• You’ll enjoy all four seasons in a year

  South Dakota celebrates 4 distinct seasons. In spring, the temperature ranges between 50°F to 60°F in the daytime and anywhere between 45°F to below freezing at night. The state will have 15 to 16 hours of sunlight in summer when the average high temperature will be 90°F during the day and will be low to near 60°F at night. Fall weather tends to be mild with an average daytime high of 57°F and low of 44°F. The winters are cold and snowy, alternating between mild and extreme. The average high will be below 32°F and the average low will be below 10°F.

• South Dakota has a booming job market

  South Dakota's economy is thriving, opening more job opportunities. The unemployment level is significantly coming down and currently, it is 3.3%, much lower than the US average. Your chance of grabbing a job is much higher in South Dakota

• The cost of living in South Dakota is low

  South Dakota has an extremely low cost of living. Groceries, housing, healthcare, and transportation costs are lower in the state than in the neighboring ones.

• There is no personal income tax in South Dakota

  South Dakota does not levy a personal income tax. The state's sales tax is also among the lowest in the country. This means your take-home salary will be higher and will reflect on your lifestyle.

• South Dakota has a robust economy

  South Dakota has one of the strongest economies in the US, predominantly based on agriculture, tourism, forestry, and mining. And this contributes to the high standard of living.

• No corporate income and personal property tax in South Dakota

  A big plus of living in South Dakota is the absence of corporate income and personal property tax, which ensures a fatter bank account. However, sales tax exists, based on where in the state you are shopping.

• South Dakota is a millennial-friendly state

  South Dakota is voted as the best state for the millennial population, considering the low rate of unemployment, education, a better stand of living, and economic health.

• Safe driving

  South Dakota is sparsely populated and outside the major cities, the traffic is almost nil. Even the city roads are not choked like many big US cities outside. This ensures you will experience safe driving while residing here.

• South Dakota is a kid-friendly state

  South Dakota must be one of the best kid-friendly places on Earth. Our mountains are climbable, our lakes clean and swimmable. In addition, the state has many magical wonders in store for kids.

• Top-quality healthcare

  South Dakota’s healthcare is often called one of the best in the US for its affordability. Some of the hospitals in the state rank top in the list of best healthcare centers in the country.

  To help you, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 hospitals in South Dakota.

  • Sanford USD Medical Center, Sioux Falls
  • Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center, Sioux Falls
  • Avera Dells Area Hospital, Dell Rapids
  • Bennett County Hospital and Nursing Home, Martin
  • Black Hills Surgical Hospital, Rapid City
  • Bowdle Hospital, Bowdle
  • Community Memorial Hospital-Burke, Burke
  • Coteau des Prairies Hospital, Sisseston
  • Custer Regional Hospital, Custer
  • Dakota Plains Surgical Center, Aberdeen

   

Pros & Cons of Living in South Dakota

One of the easiest ways to figure out if moving to South Dakota is right for you or not is to consider the pros and cons of living in the state.

To give you a head start, here are the key pros and cons of living in Mount Rushmore State:

Best Places to Live in South Dakota

If you’re moving to South Dakota, you’ll be interested in living in the best places in the state. South Dakota is home to many beautiful and livable cities, towns, and neighborhoods. Since you’re considering moving to South Dakota, here’s a list of the ten best places to live in the state:

Cost of Living in South Dakota

The cost of living in South Dakota is rated 88.3. The national average is 100.

That means the cost of living in South Dakota is lower than the United States average. This is a key metric to consider while making up your mind about moving to South Dakota:

Housing market info in South Dakota

Housing costs are one of the key things you’ll most likely consider before making up your mind about moving to South Dakota.

• South Dakota’s median home cost is $193,700
• Homes in South Dakota has appreciated by 34.3% over the last 10 years
• Currently, home appreciation in South Dakota is up by 6.5%

Average rental costs in South Dakota

Renting a home is one of the most preferred housing options if you’re moving to South Dakota. About 28.3% of the state’s population are renters. Also, about 1.7% of homes and apartments in the state are available to rent. Here’s the average cost of renting a home in the state since you’re considering moving to South Dakota:

• The average cost of a studio apartment in South Dakota is $541
• The average cost of a 1-bedroom home or apartment in South Dakota is $625
• The average cost of a 2-bedroom home or apartment in South Dakota is $794
• The average cost of a 3-bedroom home or apartment in South Dakota is $1,070
• The average cost of a 4-bedroom home or apartment in South Dakota is $1,221

How is the job market in South Dakota?

Getting a job is fairly easy if you’re moving to South Dakota. The state’s unemployment rate is 3.3%. The U.S. average is 6.0%.

Since you’re considering moving to South Dakota, here are key metrics of the state’s job market:

South Dakota tax info

Will you be paying a higher or lower tax by moving to South Dakota?

Depending on where you’re moving from, moving to South Dakota could mean paying more or less. Check out the key tax rates in South Dakota:

• There is no income tax in South Dakota
• South Dakota sales tax is 4.50% - 7.50%
• South Dakota property tax is 1.22% average effective rate
• South Dakota gas tax is 28 cents per gallon of regular gasoline and diesel
• None of the cities in South Dakota has local income taxes

Best things to do in South Dakota

If you’re moving to South Dakota, you’ll most likely be interested in the best things to do in the state.

The state is home to several beautiful attractions and there are lots of exciting activities to keep you happy while having fun. Check out this list of best things to do if you’re moving to South Dakota:

• Visit the Spearfish Canyon

  A deep but narrow gorge carved by Spearfish Creek, Spearfish Canyon is assumed to be much ancient than the Grand Canyon. The sight of the 1,000-foot narrow walls of the canyon is breathtaking. A great wildlife spot, the Canyon is home to a large population of deer, mountain goats, porcupines, and bobcats. The canyon is also a popular spot for rock climbing, biking, hiking, and fishing.

• Explore the Wind Cave National Park

  This was the first cave to be designed as a national park in the US. Wind Cave National Park features the world's largest concentration of rare boxwork formations along with 33,970 acres of forest and prairie on the surface that act as a natural sanctuary for wildlife. Wind Cave is the seventh longest cave in the world with 154.2 miles of explored cave passageways and the third-longest cave in the United States.

• Catch a glimpse of the Mammoth Site

  An active paleontological excavation site Near Hot Springs, Mammoth Site boasts the largest concentration of mammoth remains in the world. More than 60 mammoths have been unearthed from this site, as well as over 85 other species of associated Ice Age fauna.

• See the Old Courthouse Museum

  The Old Minnehaha County Courthouse or Old Courthouse Museum is a restored Richardsonian Romanesque building constructed of native pink quartzite and is a National Historic Landmark. There is a tall clock tower, a restored circuit courtroom and law library, and 16 murals painted from 1915 to 1917 inside.

• Explore the Sertoma Butterfly House and Marine Cove

  The butterfly house and aquarium have more than 800 free-flying butterflies from around the world in a tropical conservatory. In addition, a variety of marine life and live coral exhibits are displayed in more than 5,000 gallons of aquariums including a shark and stingray touch pool.

• Visit the Mount Rushmore National Historic Site

  Mount Rushmore National Memorial features the 60-foot faces of four great American presidents, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. The memorial park covers 1,278 acres and is often referred to as the "Shrine of Democracy”, attracting more than 2 million visitors annually.

• See the wild Mustangs

  The Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary near Hot Springs is where wild horses run free. You’ll see large herds of wild horses freely roaming at this 11,000-acre prairie with no fences.

• Tour the Badlands National Park

  The 244,000-acre park protects an expanse of mixed-grass prairie where bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets live today. Skeletons of three-toed horses and saber-toothed cats are among the many fossilized species found here.

• Catch a glimpse of the Buffalo at Custer State Park

  The 71,000-acre Custer State Park reserve is home to a herd of 1,500 bison, Elk, coyotes, mule deer, white-tailed deer, mountain goats, prairie dogs, bighorn sheep, river otters, pronghorn, cougars, and feral burros. Every last Friday of September, cowboys, and cowgirls drive a herd of approximately 1,300 buffalos, which is a famous festival inviting thousands of visitors.

• See the Needles Highway

  The 37.894-mile-long-Needles Highway or South Dakota Highway 87 passes through ponderosa pine and the Black Hills spruce forests, meadows surrounded by birch and aspen, and rugged granite mountains. The stretch includes sharp turns, narrow tunnels, and granite spires and is one of the adventurous driving routes in the US. The road's name comes from the needle-like granite formations, which seem to pierce the horizon along the highway.

• Catch a glimpse of the Crazy Horse Memorial

  The mountain monument in the Black Hills depicting the Oglala Lakota warrior, Crazy Horse riding a horse will be the largest mountain carving in the world after its completion. The monument has been in progress since 1948.

Tip: While moving the home, safety of your belongings is the priority and you need a trustworthy mover at your side. Know the top-rated moving companies in South Dakota.

10 Safest cities in South Dakota

Moving to South Dakota most likely means living in the safest cities in the state. Check out the list of the ten safest cities in the state since you’re considering moving to South Dakota:

Best Schools & Universities in South Dakota

Moving to South Carolina gives you the opportunity to have easier access to the best schools in the state.

The state is home to several top-quality universities, colleges, elementary, middle, and high schools.

We’ve made a list of the best schools in the state to make it easier for you to choose the right one since you’re moving to South Dakota.