The Town FilesBaltic, South Dakota
City in Minnehaha County · population 1,246 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $254,200
- Household income
- $107,768
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 29.3
Baltic is a city of 1,246 people in Minnehaha County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $254,200, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks easier by car than 99% of South Dakota towns, more upscale than 78% of South Dakota towns, better for families than 72% of South Dakota towns.
How Baltic 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 Baltic is worth $254,200, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $107,768, which is more affordable than 63% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $1,232 a month. 81.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Baltic | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $254,200 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $1,232 | $785 |
| Median household income | $107,768 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 81.1% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1997 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Baltic
| People | Baltic | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.3 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.2% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 37.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.7% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.2% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in Baltic
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 6.4°F. About 29.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.0 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Baltic since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 5, 2008 about 0.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 5, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on August 5, 2021.
Severe weather in Minnehaha County since 1996
Minnehaha County has been included in 17 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 |
| 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 Minnehaha County
Minnehaha County had 138,556 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,100 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Baltic itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Baltic
3 public schools with 580 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltic Elementary - 02 | PK-5 | 304 | 16.9 |
| Baltic High School - 01 | 9-12 | 161 | 14.6 |
| Baltic Middle School - 03 | 6-8 | 115 | 16.4 |
Towns near Baltic
- Dell Rapids, SD4.6 mi · 3,996 people · home $301,700
- Crooks, SD8.1 mi · 1,362 people · home $295,400
- Meadow View Addition, SD9.6 mi · 531 people · home $250,600
- Colton, SD9.7 mi · 738 people · home $192,900
- Garretson, SD12.1 mi · 1,228 people · home $203,800
- Hartford, SD13.8 mi · 3,354 people · home $257,700
- Brandon, SD13.9 mi · 11,048 people · home $336,600
- Sioux Falls, SD15.2 mi · 192,517 people · home $292,400
Baltic questions
Is Baltic, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Baltic scores better for retirees than 29% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 55%. 8.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.3).
How much does a house cost in Baltic?
The median owner-occupied home in Baltic is valued at $254,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $107,768, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $1,232 a month.
What is the weather like in Baltic?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 6.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.6 inches of precipitation a year and 43.0 inches of snow.
Does Baltic get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Baltic since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 5, 2008. 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)