The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in South Dakota
Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 132 towns of 500–10,000 people in South Dakota. #1 is Tripp, SD.
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25Parkston, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 83% of South Dakota towns
Parkston is a city of 1,567 people in Hutchinson County, South Dakota. It also ranks more of a college town than 91% of South Dakota towns and easier by car than 87% of South Dakota towns.
1,567 people · Hutchinson County · median home $157,100 · income $70,139 · Jan low 10°F · 36 in snow
Full Parkston, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
24Highmore, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 84% of South Dakota towns
Highmore is a city of 682 people in Hyde County, South Dakota. It also ranks better transit than 92% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 88% of South Dakota towns.
682 people · Hyde County · median home $151,800 · income $103,017 · Jan low 7°F · 40 in snow
Full Highmore, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
23Onida, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 85% of South Dakota towns
Onida is a city of 666 people in Sully County, South Dakota. It also ranks quieter than 99% of South Dakota towns and hipper than 81% of South Dakota towns.
666 people · Sully County · median home $178,600 · income $70,000 · Jan low 7°F · 49 in snow
Full Onida, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
22Faulkton, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 85% of South Dakota towns
Faulkton is a city of 826 people in Faulk County, South Dakota. It also ranks hipper than 86% of South Dakota towns and better for families than 84% of South Dakota towns.
826 people · Faulk County · median home $99,600 · income $63,750 · Jan low 4°F · 44 in snow
Full Faulkton, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
21Mina, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 86% of South Dakota towns
Mina is a community of 554 people in Edmunds County, South Dakota. It also ranks better for families than 94% of South Dakota towns and more upscale than 89% of South Dakota towns.
554 people · Edmunds County · median home $378,600 · income $103,333 · Jan low 3°F · 40 in snow
Full Mina, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
20Ipswich, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 86% of South Dakota towns
Ipswich is a city of 928 people in Edmunds County, South Dakota. It also ranks better for families than 94% of South Dakota towns and more upscale than 89% of South Dakota towns.
928 people · Edmunds County · median home $164,700 · income $74,167 · Jan low 3°F · 34 in snow
Full Ipswich, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
19Hill City, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 88% of South Dakota towns
Hill City is a city of 872 people in Pennington County, South Dakota. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 89% of South Dakota towns.
872 people · Pennington County · median home $286,200 · income $95,385 · Jan low 10°F · 67 in snow
Full Hill City, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
18Hot Springs, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 88% of South Dakota towns
Hot Springs is a city of 3,395 people in Fall River County, South Dakota. It also ranks better for cycling than 100% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 91% of South Dakota towns.
3,395 people · Fall River County · median home $202,600 · income $66,338 · Jan low 14°F · 32 in snow
Full Hot Springs, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
17Johnson Siding, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 89% of South Dakota towns
Johnson Siding is a community of 614 people in Pennington County, South Dakota. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 91% of South Dakota towns and more upscale than 82% of South Dakota towns.
614 people · Pennington County · median home $471,700 · income $102,716 · Jan low 12°F · 61 in snow
Full Johnson Siding, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
16Viborg, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 90% of South Dakota towns
Viborg is a city of 814 people in Turner County, South Dakota. It also ranks better transit than 99% of South Dakota towns and better for first-time buyers than 92% of South Dakota towns.
814 people · Turner County · median home $156,700 · income $51,944 · Jan low 7°F · 34 in snow
Full Viborg, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
15Centerville, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 90% of South Dakota towns
Centerville is a city of 918 people in Turner County, South Dakota. It also ranks better transit than 99% of South Dakota towns and better for first-time buyers than 92% of South Dakota towns.
918 people · Turner County · median home $161,200 · income $54,318 · Jan low 7°F · 31 in snow
Full Centerville, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
14Webster, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 91% of South Dakota towns
Webster is a city of 1,728 people in Day County, South Dakota. It also ranks more of a college town than 98% of South Dakota towns and hipper than 94% of South Dakota towns.
1,728 people · Day County · median home $154,100 · income $55,179 · Jan low 2°F · 43 in snow
Full Webster, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
13Gettysburg, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 92% of South Dakota towns
Gettysburg is a city of 1,104 people in Potter County, South Dakota. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of South Dakota towns and better for first-time buyers than 88% of South Dakota towns.
1,104 people · Potter County · median home $125,000 · income $63,929 · Jan low 5°F · 39 in snow
Full Gettysburg, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
12Platte, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 92% of South Dakota towns
Platte is a city of 1,296 people in Charles Mix County, South Dakota. It also ranks better for families than 99% of South Dakota towns and hipper than 97% of South Dakota towns.
1,296 people · Charles Mix County · median home $179,200 · income $72,700 · Jan low 11°F · 46 in snow
Full Platte, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
11Milbank, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 93% of South Dakota towns
Milbank is a city of 3,544 people in Grant County, South Dakota. It also ranks quieter than 92% of South Dakota towns and better for cycling than 91% of South Dakota towns.
3,544 people · Grant County · median home $155,000 · income $56,011 · Jan low 4°F · 32 in snow
Full Milbank, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
10Lake Madison, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 94% of South Dakota towns
Lake Madison is a community of 829 people in Lake County, South Dakota. It also ranks quieter than 100% of South Dakota towns and better for a vacation home than 98% of South Dakota towns.
829 people · Lake County · median home $477,800 · income $129,191 · Jan low 7°F · 38 in snow
Full Lake Madison, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
9Dakota Dunes, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 94% of South Dakota towns
Dakota Dunes is a community of 4,020 people in Union County, South Dakota. It also ranks more upscale than 99% of South Dakota towns and better for young professionals than 98% of South Dakota towns.
4,020 people · Union County · median home $565,600 · income $136,125 · Jan low 9°F · 36 in snow
Full Dakota Dunes, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
8Mobridge, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 95% of South Dakota towns
Mobridge is a city of 3,261 people in Walworth County, South Dakota. It also ranks more walkable than 90% of South Dakota towns and more vibrant than 84% of South Dakota towns.
3,261 people · Walworth County · median home $136,800 · income $65,357 · Jan low 6°F · 31 in snow
Full Mobridge, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
7Volga, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 96% of South Dakota towns
Volga is a city of 2,113 people in Brookings County, South Dakota. It also ranks better for cycling than 97% of South Dakota towns and more upscale than 91% of South Dakota towns.
2,113 people · Brookings County · median home $240,000 · income $78,828 · Jan low 4°F · 36 in snow
Full Volga, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
6Miller, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 97% of South Dakota towns
Miller is a city of 1,349 people in Hand County, South Dakota. It also ranks easier by car than 84% of South Dakota towns and more walkable than 83% of South Dakota towns.
1,349 people · Hand County · median home $155,200 · income $57,500 · Jan low 7°F · 44 in snow
Full Miller, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
5Custer, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 97% of South Dakota towns
Custer is a city of 1,919 people in Custer County, South Dakota. It also ranks quieter than 94% of South Dakota towns and better for a vacation home than 89% of South Dakota towns.
1,919 people · Custer County · median home $235,600 · income $78,369 · Jan low 16°F · 58 in snow
Full Custer, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
4Scotland, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 98% of South Dakota towns
Scotland is a city of 785 people in Bon Homme County, South Dakota. It also ranks better for cycling than 99% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 94% of South Dakota towns.
785 people · Bon Homme County · median home $110,700 · income $63,250 · Jan low 10°F · 38 in snow
Full Scotland, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
3Tyndall, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 98% of South Dakota towns
Tyndall is a city of 1,057 people in Bon Homme County, South Dakota. It also ranks better for cycling than 99% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 94% of South Dakota towns.
1,057 people · Bon Homme County · median home $101,500 · income $50,481 · Jan low 9°F · 37 in snow
Full Tyndall, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
2Whitewood, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 99% of South Dakota towns
Whitewood is a city of 879 people in Lawrence County, South Dakota. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 100% of South Dakota towns and more upscale than 92% of South Dakota towns.
879 people · Lawrence County · median home $243,300 · income $77,500 · Jan low 15°F · 48 in snow
Full Whitewood, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns. -
1Tripp, South Dakota
Better for retirees than 100% of South Dakota towns
Tripp is a city of 575 people in Hutchinson County, South Dakota. It also ranks more upscale than 86% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 85% of South Dakota towns.
575 people · Hutchinson County · median home $66,300 · income $59,167 · Jan low 9°F · 37 in snow
Full Tripp, South Dakota profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs South Dakota towns.
Price vs ranking
More South Dakota rankings
- The 25 Quietest Small Towns in South Dakota
- The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in South Dakota
- The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in South Dakota
- The 21 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in South Dakota
Same ranking, other places
- The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Pennsylvania
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New York
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Michigan
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Wisconsin
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Texas
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Minnesota
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in California
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Illinois
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Ohio
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)