The Town FilesCorsica, South Dakota
City in Douglas County · population 561 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $162,500
- Household income
- $59,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 44.3
Corsica is a city of 561 people in Douglas County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $162,500, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better transit than 83% of South Dakota towns, easier by car than 82% of South Dakota towns, better for families than 74% of South Dakota towns.
How Corsica 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 Corsica is worth $162,500, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $59,250, which is more affordable than 50% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $805 a month. 65.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Corsica | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $162,500 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $805 | $785 |
| Median household income | $59,250 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 65.2% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Corsica
| People | Corsica | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.9% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.7% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.2% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 3.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.4% | — |
| Work from home | 1.7% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 16.7 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.0% | 86.7% |
Weather in Corsica
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 10.0°F. About 25.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.4 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Corsica since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 14, 1962 about 2.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 6, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 26, 2014.
Severe weather in Douglas County since 1996
Douglas County has been included in 18 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 |
| June 7, 2019 | Flood | DR-4440: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Douglas County
Douglas County had 1,028 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,589 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Corsica itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Corsica
2 public schools with 131 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corsica-Stickney High School - 01 | 9-12 | 67 | 9.6 |
| Corsica-Stickney Jr. High - 03 | 6-8 | 64 | 16.0 |
Towns near Corsica
- Armour, SD7.8 mi · 698 people · home $105,500
- Lake Andes, SD19.5 mi · 710 people · home $58,800
- Plankinton, SD20.6 mi · 781 people · home $114,800
- Parkston, SD21.2 mi · 1,567 people · home $157,100
- Platte, SD22.0 mi · 1,296 people · home $179,200
- Wagner, SD24.6 mi · 1,490 people · home $136,000
- Tripp, SD26.0 mi · 575 people · home $66,300
- Mitchell, SD27.9 mi · 15,660 people · home $192,200
Corsica questions
Is Corsica, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Corsica scores better for retirees than 65% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 67%. 25.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.3).
How much does a house cost in Corsica?
The median owner-occupied home in Corsica is valued at $162,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,250, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $805 a month.
What is the weather like in Corsica?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 10.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 25.4 inches of precipitation a year and 34.4 inches of snow.
Does Corsica get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Corsica since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 14, 1962. 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)