The Town FilesBeresford, South Dakota
City in Union County · population 2,180 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $234,400
- Household income
- $78,793
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 35.5
Beresford is a city of 2,180 people in Union County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $234,400, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for cycling than 78% of South Dakota towns, quieter than 71% of South Dakota towns.
How Beresford 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 Beresford is worth $234,400, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $78,793, which is more affordable than 38% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $914 a month. 80.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Beresford | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $234,400 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $914 | $785 |
| Median household income | $78,793 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 80.4% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Beresford
| People | Beresford | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 30.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.0% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.2% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in Beresford
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 6.8°F. About 26.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.5 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 164 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Beresford since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 7, 1987 about 8.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 1 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 31, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on August 3, 1981.
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 Beresford itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Beresford
3 public schools with 672 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beresford Elementary - 02 | K-5 | 293 | 13.3 |
| Beresford High School - 01 | 9-12 | 219 | 14.6 |
| Beresford Middle School - 03 | 6-8 | 160 | 13.3 |
Towns near Beresford
- Alcester, SD8.5 mi · 820 people · home $125,800
- Centerville, SD9.4 mi · 918 people · home $161,200
- Hawarden, IA16.0 mi · 2,700 people · home $136,300
- Viborg, SD16.5 mi · 814 people · home $156,700
- Worthing, SD17.3 mi · 927 people · home $220,200
- Canton, SD18.3 mi · 3,066 people · home $191,400
- Lennox, SD19.5 mi · 2,423 people · home $235,900
- Akron, IA20.8 mi · 1,558 people · home $157,900
Beresford questions
Is Beresford, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Beresford scores better for retirees than 60% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 71%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.5).
How much does a house cost in Beresford?
The median owner-occupied home in Beresford is valued at $234,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,793, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $914 a month.
What is the weather like in Beresford?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 6.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.9 inches of precipitation a year and 30.5 inches of snow.
Does Beresford get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Beresford 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)