The Town FilesBurke, South Dakota
City in Gregory County · population 575 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $150,000
- Household income
- $52,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 43.7
Burke is a city of 575 people in Gregory County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $150,000, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks hipper than 86% of South Dakota towns, better for retirees than 79% of South Dakota towns, more of a college town than 74% of South Dakota towns.
How Burke 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 Burke is worth $150,000, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $52,500, which is more affordable than 45% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $525 a month. 71.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Burke | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $150,000 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $525 | $785 |
| Median household income | $52,500 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 71.8% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.8% | — |
Who lives in Burke
| People | Burke | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.4% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.1% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 11.8 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.1% | 86.7% |
Weather in Burke
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 10.1°F. About 26.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.0 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burke since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 8, 1965 about 2.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 28, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 66 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 25, 2024.
Severe weather in Gregory County since 1996
Gregory County has been included in 22 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 |
| 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 |
| October 7, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4467: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Gregory County
Gregory County had 1,586 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $39,901 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Burke itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Burke
4 public schools with 251 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burke Elementary - 02 | PK-5 | 97 | 10.8 |
| Burke High School - 01 | 9-12 | 95 | 15.8 |
| Burke Middle School - 04 | 6-8 | 59 | 19.7 |
| Whole Grade Sharing with Burke - 04 | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Burke
- Gregory, SD7.2 mi · 1,221 people · home $115,300
- Platte, SD26.6 mi · 1,296 people · home $179,200
Burke questions
Is Burke, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Burke scores better for retirees than 79% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 72%. 24.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.7).
How much does a house cost in Burke?
The median owner-occupied home in Burke is valued at $150,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,500, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $525 a month.
What is the weather like in Burke?
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 10.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.7 inches of precipitation a year and 45.0 inches of snow.
Does Burke get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burke since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 8, 1965. 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)