The Town FilesElk Point, South Dakota
City in Union County · population 2,149 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $248,500
- Household income
- $90,473
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 35.5
Elk Point is a city of 2,149 people in Union County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $248,500, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks easier by car than 92% of South Dakota towns, better for families than 78% of South Dakota towns, more walkable than 73% of South Dakota towns.
How Elk Point 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 Elk Point is worth $248,500, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $90,473, which is more affordable than 50% of South Dakota towns. 78.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elk Point | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $248,500 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | — | $785 |
| Median household income | $90,473 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 78.4% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Elk Point
| People | Elk Point | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.7% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 29.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.4% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.5% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 10.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.4% | 86.7% |
Weather in Elk Point
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 10.2°F. About 28.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.8 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elk Point since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 28, 1986 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 4, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 87 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 5, 1960.
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 Elk Point itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Elk Point
3 public schools with 690 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elk Point-Jefferson Elementary - 02 | K-5 | 333 | 13.3 |
| Elk Point-Jefferson High School - 01 | 9-12 | 218 | 14.5 |
| Elk Point-Jefferson Middle School - 03 | 6-8 | 139 | 15.4 |
Towns near Elk Point
- Ponca, NE8.2 mi · 907 people · home $201,000
- Akron, IA11.8 mi · 1,558 people · home $157,900
- North Sioux City, SD13.8 mi · 3,042 people · home $269,800
- Vermillion, SD14.2 mi · 11,695 people · home $219,000
- Dakota Dunes, SD16.6 mi · 4,020 people · home $565,600
- Sioux City, IA19.6 mi · 85,797 people · home $173,600
- Hinton, IA19.8 mi · 935 people · home $263,100
- South Sioux City, NE20.4 mi · 14,043 people · home $174,700
Elk Point questions
Is Elk Point, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elk Point scores better for retirees than 39% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 62%. 17.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.5).
How much does a house cost in Elk Point?
The median owner-occupied home in Elk Point is valued at $248,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,473, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Elk Point?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 10.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.0 inches of precipitation a year and 35.8 inches of snow.
Does Elk Point get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elk Point 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)