The Town FilesDe Smet, South Dakota
City in Kingsbury County · population 1,056 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $165,200
- Household income
- $67,321
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 47.3
De Smet is a city of 1,056 people in Kingsbury County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $165,200, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks easier by car than 90% of South Dakota towns, better for cycling than 87% of South Dakota towns, quieter than 86% of South Dakota towns.
How De Smet 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 De Smet is worth $165,200, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $67,321, which is more affordable than 59% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $708 a month. 85.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | De Smet | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,200 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $708 | $785 |
| Median household income | $67,321 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 85.2% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.8% | — |
Who lives in De Smet
| People | De Smet | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.3% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.1% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.6% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 11.7 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.7% | 86.7% |
Weather in De Smet
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 4.9°F. About 25.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.4 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of De Smet since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 24, 2003 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 10, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 18, 2012.
Severe weather in Kingsbury County since 1996
Kingsbury County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 27, 2023 | Winter Storm | DR-4689: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
| June 29, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4656: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| November 18, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4469: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 7, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4467: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Kingsbury County
Kingsbury County had 1,814 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,846 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in De Smet itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in De Smet
3 public schools with 354 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary - 02 | PK-5 | 178 | 17.8 |
| De Smet High School - 01 | 9-12 | 90 | 11.3 |
| De Smet Middle School - 03 | 6-8 | 86 | 17.2 |
Towns near De Smet
- Lake Preston, SD8.7 mi · 589 people · home $130,000
- Arlington, SD20.6 mi · 915 people · home $144,300
- Lake Norden, SD21.4 mi · 554 people · home $192,600
- Lake Poinsett, SD25.3 mi · 501 people · home $493,200
- Howard, SD25.9 mi · 848 people · home $100,700
De Smet questions
Is De Smet, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, De Smet scores better for retirees than 83% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 86%. 29.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.3).
How much does a house cost in De Smet?
The median owner-occupied home in De Smet is valued at $165,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,321, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $708 a month.
What is the weather like in De Smet?
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 4.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 25.9 inches of precipitation a year and 41.4 inches of snow.
Does De Smet get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of De Smet since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 24, 2003. 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)