The Town FilesDakota Dunes, South Dakota
Community in Union County · population 4,020 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $565,600
- Household income
- $136,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 42.6
Dakota Dunes is a community of 4,020 people in Union County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $565,600, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks more upscale than 99% of South Dakota towns, better for young professionals than 98% of South Dakota towns, better for retirees than 94% of South Dakota towns.
How Dakota Dunes 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 Dakota Dunes is worth $565,600, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $136,125, which is more affordable than 10% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $1,225 a month. 67.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dakota Dunes | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $565,600 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $1,225 | $785 |
| Median household income | $136,125 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 67.0% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 2003 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dakota Dunes
| People | Dakota Dunes | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.2% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 59.8% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.4% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 2.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 12.1 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.7% | 86.7% |
Weather in Dakota Dunes
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 8.7°F. About 30.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.0 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dakota Dunes since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 28, 1986 about 7.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 140 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 29, 2017.
Severe weather in Union County since 1996
Union County has been included in 19 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 |
| 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 Union County
Union County had 9,633 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,276 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Dakota Dunes itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Towns near Dakota Dunes
- North Sioux City, SD3.2 mi · 3,042 people · home $269,800
- South Sioux City, NE4.1 mi · 14,043 people · home $174,700
- Sioux City, IA4.8 mi · 85,797 people · home $173,600
- Sergeant Bluff, IA9.3 mi · 5,015 people · home $298,500
- Le Mars, IA25.6 mi · 10,571 people · home $219,200
Dakota Dunes questions
Is Dakota Dunes, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dakota Dunes scores better for retirees than 94% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 12%. 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in Dakota Dunes?
The median owner-occupied home in Dakota Dunes is valued at $565,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $136,125, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,225 a month.
What is the weather like in Dakota Dunes?
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 8.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.3 inches of precipitation a year and 36.0 inches of snow.
Does Dakota Dunes get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dakota Dunes since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 28, 1986. 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)