The Town FilesAlcester, South Dakota
City in Union County · population 820 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $125,800
- Household income
- $57,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 44.4
Alcester is a city of 820 people in Union County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $125,800, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for cycling than 81% of South Dakota towns.
How Alcester ranks
Percentile among South Dakota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Dakota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Alcester is worth $125,800, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $57,000, which is more affordable than 70% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $688 a month. 69.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Alcester | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $125,800 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $688 | $785 |
| Median household income | $57,000 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 69.3% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Alcester
| People | Alcester | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.4 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.9% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.3% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.4% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 14.9 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.4% | 86.7% |
Weather in Alcester
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 7.2°F. About 29.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.6 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 166 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alcester since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 7, 1987 about 7.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 1 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 11, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 61 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on September 5, 1983.
Severe weather in Union County since 1996
Union County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4807: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
| November 18, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4469: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4463: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Union County
Union County had 9,633 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,276 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Alcester itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Public schools in Alcester
4 public schools with 366 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcester-Hudson Elementary - 04 | K-6 | 170 | 12.1 |
| Alcester-Hudson High School - 01 | 9-12 | 111 | 13.9 |
| Alcester-Hudson Jr. High - 03 | 7-8 | 49 | 12.3 |
| Alcester-Hudson Preschool - 05 | PK-PK | 36 | 36.0 |
Towns near Alcester
- Hawarden, IA7.5 mi · 2,700 people · home $136,300
- Beresford, SD8.5 mi · 2,180 people · home $234,400
- Akron, IA14.5 mi · 1,558 people · home $157,900
- Ireton, IA15.8 mi · 590 people · home $156,600
- Centerville, SD17.9 mi · 918 people · home $161,200
- Canton, SD19.0 mi · 3,066 people · home $191,400
- Rock Valley, IA20.8 mi · 4,059 people · home $231,200
- Inwood, IA21.6 mi · 928 people · home $202,900
Alcester questions
Is Alcester, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Alcester scores better for retirees than 64% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 67%. 31.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.4).
How much does a house cost in Alcester?
The median owner-occupied home in Alcester is valued at $125,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,000, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $688 a month.
What is the weather like in Alcester?
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 7.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.9 inches of precipitation a year and 30.6 inches of snow.
Does Alcester get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alcester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 7, 1987. The typical South Dakota town has had 13.
- 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)