The Town FilesColton, South Dakota
City in Minnehaha County · population 738 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $192,900
- Household income
- $83,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 41.3
Colton is a city of 738 people in Minnehaha County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $192,900, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for families than 94% of South Dakota towns, more upscale than 94% of South Dakota towns, easier by car than 90% of South Dakota towns.
How Colton 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 Colton is worth $192,900, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $83,750, which is more affordable than 65% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $736 a month. 68.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Colton | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $192,900 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $736 | $785 |
| Median household income | $83,750 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 68.1% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Colton
| People | Colton | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.6% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.6% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.3% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.4% | 86.7% |
Weather in Colton
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 39.6 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
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Colton since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 5, 2008 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 5, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on July 7, 1991.
Severe weather in Minnehaha County since 1996
Minnehaha County has been included in 17 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 Minnehaha County
Minnehaha County had 138,556 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,100 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Colton itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Colton
3 public schools with 732 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tri-Valley Intermediate School - 03 | 5-8 | 303 | 15.9 |
| Tri-Valley High School - 01 | 9-12 | 275 | 15.3 |
| Tri-Valley Elementary in Colton - 02 | K-4 | 154 | 10.3 |
Towns near Colton
- Baltic, SD9.7 mi · 1,246 people · home $254,200
- Dell Rapids, SD11.0 mi · 3,996 people · home $301,700
- Crooks, SD11.0 mi · 1,362 people · home $295,400
- Hartford, SD11.5 mi · 3,354 people · home $257,700
- Humboldt, SD12.3 mi · 579 people · home $227,700
- Lake Madison, SD12.6 mi · 829 people · home $477,800
- Colman, SD14.7 mi · 634 people · home $235,800
- Meadow View Addition, SD16.0 mi · 531 people · home $250,600
Colton questions
Is Colton, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Colton scores better for retirees than 73% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 76%. 16.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.3).
How much does a house cost in Colton?
The median owner-occupied home in Colton is valued at $192,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,750, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $736 a month.
What is the weather like in Colton?
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 39.6 inches of snow.
Does Colton get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Colton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 5, 2008. 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)