The Town FilesChamberlain, South Dakota
City in Brule County · population 2,473 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $224,300
- Household income
- $76,761
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 43.0
Chamberlain is a city of 2,473 people in Brule County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $224,300, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks hipper than 95% of South Dakota towns, more vibrant than 85% of South Dakota towns, more walkable than 81% of South Dakota towns.
How Chamberlain 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 Chamberlain is worth $224,300, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $76,761, which is more affordable than 45% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $818 a month. 68.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chamberlain | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $224,300 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $818 | $785 |
| Median household income | $76,761 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 68.2% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Chamberlain
| People | Chamberlain | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.7% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.3% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.1% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 13.9 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.7% | 86.7% |
Weather in Chamberlain
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 11.1°F. About 20.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.3 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chamberlain since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 24, 1971 about 2.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 69 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 6, 2019.
Severe weather in Brule County since 1996
Brule County has been included in 21 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 |
| September 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4463: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Brule County
Brule County had 2,007 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,127 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Chamberlain itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Chamberlain
3 public schools with 848 students, about 10.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chamberlain Elementary - 03 | K-5 | 382 | 9.8 |
| Chamberlain High School - 01 | 9-12 | 272 | 12.4 |
| Chamberlain Jr. High - 02 | 6-8 | 194 | 11.4 |
Towns near Chamberlain
- Fort Thompson, SD18.1 mi · 1,224 people · home $150,000
- Kimball, SD19.0 mi · 572 people · home $152,800
- Lower Brule, SD22.8 mi · 703 people · home $21,900
- West Brule, SD24.4 mi · 538 people · home —
Chamberlain questions
Is Chamberlain, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chamberlain scores better for retirees than 51% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 51%. 23.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.0).
How much does a house cost in Chamberlain?
The median owner-occupied home in Chamberlain is valued at $224,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,761, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $818 a month.
What is the weather like in Chamberlain?
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 11.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.4 inches of precipitation a year and 43.3 inches of snow.
Does Chamberlain get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chamberlain since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 24, 1971. 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)