The Town FilesCenterville, South Dakota
City in Turner County · population 918 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $161,200
- Household income
- $54,318
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 48
- Median age
- 48.4
Centerville is a city of 918 people in Turner County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $161,200, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better transit than 99% of South Dakota towns, better for first-time buyers than 92% of South Dakota towns, better for retirees than 90% of South Dakota towns.
How Centerville 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 Centerville is worth $161,200, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $54,318, which is more affordable than 38% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $485 a month. 78.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Centerville | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $161,200 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $485 | $785 |
| Median household income | $54,318 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 78.3% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1948 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Centerville
| People | Centerville | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.4 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.3% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.9% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.7% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 14.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.5% | 86.7% |
Weather in Centerville
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
48 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Centerville since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 7, 1965 about 9.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. 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 64 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on August 3, 1981.
Severe weather in Turner County since 1996
Turner County has been included in 26 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 Turner County
Turner County had 2,389 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,661 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Centerville itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Centerville
3 public schools with 280 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centerville Elementary - 02 | PK-5 | 119 | 13.2 |
| Centerville High School - 01 | 9-12 | 92 | 15.3 |
| Centerville Middle School - 03 | 6-8 | 69 | 13.8 |
Towns near Centerville
- Viborg, SD7.3 mi · 814 people · home $156,700
- Beresford, SD9.4 mi · 2,180 people · home $234,400
- Lennox, SD16.4 mi · 2,423 people · home $235,900
- Worthing, SD17.6 mi · 927 people · home $220,200
- Alcester, SD17.9 mi · 820 people · home $125,800
- Parker, SD21.3 mi · 1,194 people · home $231,100
- Canton, SD22.8 mi · 3,066 people · home $191,400
- Vermillion, SD23.2 mi · 11,695 people · home $219,000
Centerville questions
Is Centerville, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Centerville scores better for retirees than 90% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 75%. 32.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.4).
How much does a house cost in Centerville?
The median owner-occupied home in Centerville is valued at $161,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,318, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $485 a month.
What is the weather like in Centerville?
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 Centerville get tornadoes?
48 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Centerville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 7, 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)