The Town FilesEureka, South Dakota
City in McPherson County · population 813 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $78,200
- Household income
- $47,583
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 63.1
Eureka is a city of 813 people in McPherson County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $78,200, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks quieter than 92% of South Dakota towns, better for cycling than 83% of South Dakota towns, better for retirees than 80% of South Dakota towns.
How Eureka 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 Eureka is worth $78,200, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $47,583, which is more affordable than 89% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $557 a month. 81.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Eureka | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $78,200 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $557 | $785 |
| Median household income | $47,583 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 81.8% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.8% | — |
Who lives in Eureka
| People | Eureka | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 63.1 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 47.2% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 13.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.9% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.2% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 15.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 0.3% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 18.8 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.2% | 86.7% |
Weather in Eureka
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 1.8°F. About 20.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.3 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 179 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Eureka since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 24, 2006 about 7.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 8, 2007.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 9, 2016.
Severe weather in McPherson County since 1996
McPherson County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 2, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4664: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
| June 7, 2019 | Flood | DR-4440: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| February 1, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4298: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in McPherson County
McPherson County had 560 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,808 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Eureka itself the ACS puts it at 0.3%.
Public schools in Eureka
3 public schools with 171 students, about 9.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka Elementary - 02 | PK-6 | 105 | 9.5 |
| Eureka High School - 01 | 9-12 | 39 | 7.8 |
| Eureka Jr. High - 03 | 7-8 | 27 | 9.0 |
Towns near Eureka
- Ashley, ND21.7 mi · 613 people · home $58,900
- Selby, SD27.1 mi · 610 people · home $105,700
Eureka questions
Is Eureka, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Eureka scores better for retirees than 80% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 92%. 47.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 63.1).
How much does a house cost in Eureka?
The median owner-occupied home in Eureka is valued at $78,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,583, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $557 a month.
What is the weather like in Eureka?
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 1.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.2 inches of precipitation a year and 44.3 inches of snow.
Does Eureka get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Eureka since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 24, 2006. 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)