9 Most Affordable Places to Live in South Dakota in 2025

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 $320,400. 

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 9 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: Huron

Median home price: $164,700
Average sale price per square foot: $48
Median household income: $57,702
Nearest major metro: Sioux Falls (125 miles)
Huron, SD homes for sale
Huron, SD apartments for rent

Taking the first spot on our list of most affordable places to live in South Dakota is Huron. Home to about 14,600 residents and a median home sale price of $164,700, Huron is a great smaller town to call home. In Huron, you can check out gems like the World’s Largest Pheasant statue, the South Dakota State Fair, and the Broadland Creek Golf Course. 

#2: Watertown

Median home price: $213,750
Average sale price per square foot: $106
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $997
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 Huron 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.

#3: Aberdeen

Median home price: $238,950
Average sale price per square foot: $115
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $864
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 $238,950, Aberdeen claims the third 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.

#4: Mitchell

Median home price: $246,250
Average sale price per square foot: $123
Median household income: $51,763
Nearest major metro: Sioux Falls (72 miles)
Mitchell, SD homes for sale
Mitchell, SD apartments for rent

Home to about 15,600 residents, Mitchell is the next South Dakota city to make our list. The median home sale price is nearly 74K less than the state’s average, so it’s a great affordable option to consider. There’s plenty to explore in Mitchell such as The World’s Only Corn Palace, the Dakota Discovery Museum, and the Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village National Historic Landmark. You can also spend the day at Lake Mitchell enjoying the great outdoors.

#5: Pierre

Median home price: $250,000
Average sale price per square foot: $110
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,460
Median household income: $80,473
Pierre, SD homes for sale
Pierre, SD apartments for rent

Consider adding Pierre to your list of cities to consider living in if you’re looking for an affordable place to move to in South Dakota. With 13,800 residents, moving to this affordable city gives you the perks of city life while still living close to nature. In Pierre, you can visit the South Dakota State Capitol, Steamboat Park, and the charming downtown area with local shops and river views. Pierre is also a great lake town in South Dakota to consider living in as it’s near Lake Sharpe.

#6: Vermillion

Median home price: $263,000
Average sale price per square foot: $110
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,269
Median household income: $47,813
Nearest major metro: Sioux City, IA (36 miles)
Vermillion, SD homes for sale
Vermillion, SD apartments for rent

Sixth is Vermillion where about 12,000 residents currently live. The median home sale price is $263,000 which is about $60K 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 explore the charming Main Street, check out the exhibits at the National Music Museum, and stroll through the University of South Dakota campus.

#7: Yankton

Median home price: $267,500
Average sale price per square foot: $143
Median household income: $60,180
Nearest major metro: Sioux City, IA (63 miles)
Yankton, SD homes for sale
Yankton, SD apartments for rent

The next city is Yankton, located just across from Nebraska. With about 15,600 residents, this is a great small town to live in. In Yankton, you can enjoy the views of Meridian Bridge and the Missouri River at Riverside Park, explore downtown Yankton where you’ll find cafes, breweries, and restaurants, and stop by Fantle Memorial Park. 

#8: Rapid City

Median home price: $304,999
Average sale price per square foot: $205 
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,360 
Median household income: $58,072 
Nearest major metro: Denver, CO (350 miles)
Rapid City, SD homes for sale
Rapid City, SD apartments for rent

Eighth is Rapid City where about 75,400 residents currently live. The median home sale price is $304,999 which is about $15K 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. 

#9: Sioux Falls

Median home price: $313,500
Average sale price per square foot: $184 
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,015 
Median household income: $54,676 
Nearest major metro: Minneapolis, MN (270 miles)
Sioux Falls, SD homes for sale
Sioux Falls, SD apartments for rent

Taking the final spot on our list of affordable South Dakota cities is Sioux Falls. 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 10,000 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 April 2025. Average rental data from Rent.com April 2025. Population and median household income data sourced from the United States Census Bureau.

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