The Town FilesColman, South Dakota
City in Moody County · population 634 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $235,800
- Household income
- $76,146
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 35.7
Colman is a city of 634 people in Moody County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $235,800, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks more of a college town than 94% of South Dakota towns, more upscale than 83% of South Dakota towns, better for retirees than 80% of South Dakota towns.
How Colman 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 Colman is worth $235,800, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $76,146, which is more affordable than 30% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $733 a month. 77.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Colman | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $235,800 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $733 | $785 |
| Median household income | $76,146 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 77.9% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Colman
| People | Colman | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.9% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 30.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.0% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.5% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 14.4% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 30.3 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.4% | 86.7% |
Weather in Colman
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 6.8°F. About 26.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.5 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Colman since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 9, 1992 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 16, 2006.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 20, 2004.
Severe weather in Moody County since 1996
Moody County has been included in 21 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 Moody County
Moody County had 2,561 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,179 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Colman itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in Colman
3 public schools with 301 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colman Elementary - 03 | PK-6 | 168 | 15.3 |
| Colman-Egan High School - 01 | 9-12 | 90 | 15.0 |
| Colman-Egan Jr. High - 02 | 7-8 | 43 | 14.3 |
Towns near Colman
- Lake Madison, SD10.7 mi · 829 people · home $477,800
- Flandreau, SD11.4 mi · 2,372 people · home $150,400
- Dell Rapids, SD12.0 mi · 3,996 people · home $301,700
- Colton, SD14.7 mi · 738 people · home $192,900
- Madison, SD14.7 mi · 6,191 people · home $193,100
- Baltic, SD15.9 mi · 1,246 people · home $254,200
- Aurora, SD21.7 mi · 1,047 people · home $234,600
- Brookings, SD22.1 mi · 23,377 people · home $265,500
Colman questions
Is Colman, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Colman scores better for retirees than 80% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 46%. 15.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.7).
How much does a house cost in Colman?
The median owner-occupied home in Colman is valued at $235,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,146, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $733 a month.
What is the weather like in Colman?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 6.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.8 inches of precipitation a year and 42.5 inches of snow.
Does Colman get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Colman since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 9, 1992. 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)