The Town FilesAlexandria, South Dakota
City in Hanson County · population 649 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $180,200
- Household income
- $102,679
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 40.6
Alexandria is a city of 649 people in Hanson County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $180,200, close to the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for families than 98% of South Dakota towns, more of a college town than 90% of South Dakota towns, better for cycling than 84% of South Dakota towns.
How Alexandria 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 Alexandria is worth $180,200, close to the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $102,679, which is more affordable than 83% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $775 a month. 83.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Alexandria | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $180,200 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $775 | $785 |
| Median household income | $102,679 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 83.4% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Alexandria
| People | Alexandria | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.5% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.7% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.3% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 18.6 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in Alexandria
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 5.8°F. About 25.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.3 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alexandria since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 30, 1998 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 24, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 7, 1964.
Severe weather in Hanson County since 1996
Hanson County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4807: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| June 29, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4656: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, 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 |
Jobs and pay in Hanson County
Hanson County had 626 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,885 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Alexandria itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Alexandria
5 public schools with 387 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanson Elementary - 06 | PK-5 | 145 | 14.5 |
| Hanson High School - 01 | 9-12 | 127 | 15.9 |
| Hanson Middle School - 02 | 6-8 | 75 | 15.0 |
| Oaklane Colony Elementary - 05 | K-8 | 30 | 15.0 |
| Rockport Colony Elementary- 10 | K-8 | 10 | 10.0 |
Towns near Alexandria
- Mitchell, SD14.0 mi · 15,660 people · home $192,200
- Bridgewater, SD15.8 mi · 511 people · home $116,100
- Salem, SD20.1 mi · 1,325 people · home $166,700
- Parkston, SD20.8 mi · 1,567 people · home $157,100
- Canistota, SD24.7 mi · 631 people · home $137,000
- Freeman, SD27.5 mi · 1,329 people · home $164,200
- Howard, SD27.8 mi · 848 people · home $100,700
Alexandria questions
Is Alexandria, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Alexandria scores better for retirees than 19% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 49%. 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.6).
How much does a house cost in Alexandria?
The median owner-occupied home in Alexandria is valued at $180,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $102,679, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $775 a month.
What is the weather like in Alexandria?
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 5.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 25.3 inches of precipitation a year and 36.3 inches of snow.
Does Alexandria get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alexandria since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 30, 1998. 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)