The Town FilesDeadwood, South Dakota
City in Lawrence County · population 1,156 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $226,500
- Household income
- $40,179
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 184 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 57.3
Deadwood is a city of 1,156 people in Lawrence County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $226,500, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of South Dakota towns, better for a vacation home than 92% of South Dakota towns, more walkable than 83% of South Dakota towns.
How Deadwood 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 Deadwood is worth $226,500, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 5.6 times the median household income of $40,179, which is more affordable than 2% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $702 a month. 55.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Deadwood | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $226,500 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $702 | $785 |
| Median household income | $40,179 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 55.9% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 13.9% | — |
Who lives in Deadwood
| People | Deadwood | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.3 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 37.2% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 7.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.1% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 16.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 13.9 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.2% | 86.7% |
Weather in Deadwood
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 17.7°F. About 31.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 183.9 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 167 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Deadwood since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 23, 1969 about 6.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 10, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 185 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 29, 2018.
Severe weather in Lawrence County since 1996
Lawrence County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
| October 7, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4467: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| November 8, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4155: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| June 28, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4125: Severe Storms, Tornado, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lawrence County
Lawrence County had 13,566 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,201 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Deadwood itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Deadwood
1 public school with 244 students, about 9.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead-Deadwood Elementary - 03 | K-5 | 244 | 9.4 |
Towns near Deadwood
- Lead, SD3.3 mi · 2,982 people · home $189,400
- Boulder Canyon, SD5.8 mi · 561 people · home $597,800
- Whitewood, SD6.6 mi · 879 people · home $243,300
- Spearfish, SD8.6 mi · 12,193 people · home $346,200
- Sturgis, SD11.0 mi · 7,020 people · home $271,200
- North Spearfish, SD12.5 mi · 2,366 people · home $356,200
- Belle Fourche, SD20.3 mi · 5,617 people · home $222,500
- Piedmont, SD20.6 mi · 971 people · home $324,200
Deadwood questions
Is Deadwood, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Deadwood scores better for retirees than 66% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 42%. 37.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.3).
How much does a house cost in Deadwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Deadwood is valued at $226,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,179, so homes cost about 5.6 times income. Median rent is $702 a month.
What is the weather like in Deadwood?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 17.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.8 inches of precipitation a year and 183.9 inches of snow.
Does Deadwood get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Deadwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 23, 1969. 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)