South Dakota Real Estate For Sale

The largest cities in the state, Sioux Falls and Rapid City, have experienced exponential population growth in recent years, with families and young professionals flocking to get a piece of South Dakota real estate. Homes in these areas have an average price of $300,000, putting them well below the average property in a downtown area.

But cities aren't the only places with an explosion of homes for sale in South Dakota. The more rural areas of the state have become more popular as well, as people can work remotely and are seeking the space and peace that comes with these larger homes. Among rural communities in South Dakota real estate, buyers can find a home for a median price of $130,000, vastly lower than most places in the U.S. Additionally, these communities are largely undeveloped, so buying land to build on is an option as well.

Because the housing density in the state is relatively low, South Dakota homeowners can enjoy an average home size of just under 2,000 square feet. While the cities have plenty of apartments and condos, the majority of real estate in South Dakota are single-family units with at least a yard or some other small amount of land.

South Dakota's public schools are governed by the South Dakota Department of Education, which manages roughly 700 schools and 170 school districts throughout the state. With several high-quality K-12 schools, parents and families thinking of buying South Dakota real estate will find an education that meets their needs across the state.

Because of the rural nature of much of the state and the low population, many school districts encompass a large number of cities, with students traveling to get to their designated schools. For example, one of the state's best districts is the Brandon Valley School District, which comprises seven schools across five cities on the state's eastern edge. With a graduation rate of 94%, it is clear that the students are able to excel even with a trek to the classroom.

Another exemplary district in South Dakota is the Yankton School District 63-3, which includes four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. These schools utilize a progressive curriculum and provide access to cutting-edge technology, including many computers and SMART boards in all classrooms.

The state also boasts 22 colleges and universities, including South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota.

South Dakota real estate has access to five total passenger airports, including one in Rapid City and one in Sioux Falls. None of the airports in South Dakota have international service. 

The most popular attraction in South Dakota is Mount Rushmore National Park, which includes the large carving of former presidents. Other attractions include other national parks for biking, hiking, sightseeing, and fishing, along with the adventurous Needles Highway. There are also plenty of opportunities to see wildlife throughout the state, including stallions and buffalo. 

South Dakota is a very affordable state, with relatively low housing costs and cost of goods. The state also has very few taxes, including no corporate tax, personal state income tax, or local income tax. Property taxes and sales taxes are also low. 

Winters in South Dakota can be frigid, with an average low of 7 degrees, and the state is prone to heavy snowfall. However, all four seasons are distinct, and summers often hit 85 degrees with sunny skies. 

In most public districts, South Dakota's school year begins in late August and ends in late May.

With so much open space, South Dakota is full of beautiful views and the ability to spend a lot of time enjoying nature. Alongside the beautiful attractions in South Dakota's outdoors, you will also find historic sites and museums to explore. There are endless activities and tons of attractions to visit when you move to South Dakota real estate.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial features the iconic 60-foot carvings of former presidents, which is why it has been nicknamed the Shrine of Democracy. Over 2 million visitors each year are drawn to the park's 1,278 acres.

As the first cave designed as a national park, Wind Cave features the largest concentration of boxwork formations in the world and is the seventh longest cave. This sits alongside nearly 34,000 acres of prairie and forest, which act as a natural sanctuary for wildlife.

This deep, narrow gorge carved by Spearfish Creek is believed to be much older than the Grand Canyon, with 1,000-foot narrow walls. The canyon also houses large swaths of deer, mountain goats, porcupines, and bobcats, along with popular areas for rock climbing, biking, hiking, and fishing.

Near Hot Springs, this active paleontological excavation site has the largest concentration of mammoth remains on Earth. Over 60 mammoths have been recovered from this single site, along with 85 other species of Ice Age fauna.

Also known as the Old Minnehaha County Courthouse, this restored Richardsonian Romanesque building is built from native pink quartzite and is a National Historic Landmark. A tour will show you a tall clock tower, a law library, 16 murals painted between 1915 and 1917, and a restored circuit courtroom.

Nearly 28 miles long, South Dakota Highway 87 offers a single drive with endless views. The road passes through ponderosa pine and Black Hills spruce forests, then meadows surrounded by birch and aspen. You will also see rugged granite mountains during the drive, which is considered one of the most adventurous in the country due to its sharp turns and narrow tunnels. The road is often called Needles Highway for the needle-like granite formations that line the horizon.

South Dakota is large in terms of pure land- the 16th largest in the country. With the Missouri River down the center of the state, locals often refer to two distinct regions: East River and West River.

No matter where you are relative to the Missouri River, South Dakota is known for the feeling of small-town living and wide-open spaces, offering a peaceful lifestyle. Crime rates are remarkably low in almost every area of the state, traffic is minimal, and even the largest cities have a sleepy, tight-knit feeling many people crave.

South Dakota real estate is often voted one of the best places for millennials and young professionals due to low housing prices, low unemployment rates, great education, high standard of living, and overall economic health. At the same time, many retirees enjoy the state's low-tax environment.

While many people think of South Dakota as a cold and snowy place, that is only true in the winter. In fact, residents can enjoy a bit of every type of weather and four distinct seasons, with summer highs around 85 degrees and an average of 213 sunny days per year. The national average is 205 per year, giving The Mount Rushmore State an edge. Residents do need to be prepared for the other days, though- winter lows average 7 degrees, and the state gets 39 inches of snow and 23 inches of rain per year.

Young professionals flock to South Dakota real estate to enjoy low housing prices, low unemployment rates, and affordable cost of living. While many states with a rural landscape like South Dakota rely on industries like agriculture, South Dakota has gained a reputation for its booming economy in more modern markets. Manufacturing and livestock are important parts of the state's economy, but city centers have become havens for tech companies and biomedical organizations alike.

The largest employers in South Dakota include Sanford Health, which has 28,000 employees. Monument Health and Rapid City Regional Hospital are the next largest employers. Whatever industry you are in, South Dakota boasts an unemployment rate nearly half that of the national average and projected job growth in coming years.

An average annual salary in South Dakota is $68,000, which is healthy considering the low cost of housing and other necessities. In addition to a low cost of living, South Dakota has no personal income tax at the state level and no local income taxes in any city. Paired with relatively low sales tax and no personal property taxes, many find the jobs available in the state more than sufficient to live a comfortable life.