The Town FilesBritton, South Dakota
City in Marshall County · population 1,215 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $110,200
- Household income
- $62,898
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 43.9
Britton is a city of 1,215 people in Marshall County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $110,200, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of South Dakota towns, better transit than 93% of South Dakota towns, more of a college town than 88% of South Dakota towns.
How Britton 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 Britton is worth $110,200, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $62,898, which is more affordable than 83% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $798 a month. 76.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Britton | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $110,200 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $798 | $785 |
| Median household income | $62,898 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 76.6% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.9% | — |
Who lives in Britton
| People | Britton | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.9 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 15.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.5% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.0% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 0.5% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 10.5 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in Britton
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 0.4°F. About 24.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.4 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Britton since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 31, 1996 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 26, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 9, 1968.
Severe weather in Marshall County since 1996
Marshall County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 6, 2023 | Flood | DR-4718: Flooding |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
| June 7, 2019 | Flood | DR-4440: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| February 1, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4298: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Marshall County
Marshall County had 1,681 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,097 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Britton itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Britton
6 public schools with 480 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Britton-Hecla Elementary - 02 | K-5 | 173 | 12.4 |
| Britton-Hecla High School - 01 | 9-12 | 126 | 15.8 |
| Britton-Hecla Middle School - 03 | 6-8 | 109 | 18.2 |
| Westwood Rural Elementary - 05 | K-8 | 34 | 17.0 |
| Sunset Colony Elementary - 04 | K-8 | 28 | 14.0 |
| Sunset Colony High School - 06 | 9-12 | 10 | — |
Towns near Britton
- Forman, ND22.2 mi · 509 people · home $128,100
- Oakes, ND28.9 mi · 1,798 people · home $159,700
- Groton, SD28.9 mi · 1,380 people · home $190,600
Britton questions
Is Britton, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Britton scores better for retirees than 69% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 53%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.9).
How much does a house cost in Britton?
The median owner-occupied home in Britton is valued at $110,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,898, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $798 a month.
What is the weather like in Britton?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 0.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.3 inches of precipitation a year and 45.4 inches of snow.
Does Britton get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Britton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 31, 1996. 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)