The Town FilesFaulkton, South Dakota
City in Faulk County · population 826 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $99,600
- Household income
- $63,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 37.5
Faulkton is a city of 826 people in Faulk County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $99,600, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks hipper than 86% of South Dakota towns, better for retirees than 85% of South Dakota towns, better for families than 84% of South Dakota towns.
How Faulkton 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 Faulkton is worth $99,600, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $63,750, which is more affordable than 89% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $902 a month. 57.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Faulkton | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $99,600 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $902 | $785 |
| Median household income | $63,750 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 57.5% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.5% | — |
Who lives in Faulkton
| People | Faulkton | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.1% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.3% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.4% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 9.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 1.8% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 16.0 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in Faulkton
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 4.4°F. About 22.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.7 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 172 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Faulkton since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 9, 1957 about 0.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 18, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on August 4, 2000.
Severe weather in Faulk County since 1996
Faulk County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 6, 2023 | Flood | DR-4718: 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 Faulk County
Faulk County had 688 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,528 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Faulkton itself the ACS puts it at 15.2%.
Public schools in Faulkton
7 public schools with 393 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkton Elementary - 02 | PK-5 | 175 | 11.7 |
| Faulkton High School - 01 | 9-12 | 76 | 10.9 |
| Faulkton Middle School - 08 | 6-8 | 52 | 10.4 |
| Blumengard Colony Elementary - 06 | K-8 | 34 | 17.0 |
| Thunderbird Colony Elementary - 10 | K-8 | 32 | 16.0 |
| Brentwood Colony Elementary - 05 | K-8 | 19 | 9.5 |
| Brentwood Colony Virtual High School - 92 | 9-12 | 5 | — |
Towns near Faulkton
- Ipswich, SD28.7 mi · 928 people · home $164,700
Faulkton questions
Is Faulkton, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Faulkton scores better for retirees than 85% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 82%. 26.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in Faulkton?
The median owner-occupied home in Faulkton is valued at $99,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,750, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $902 a month.
What is the weather like in Faulkton?
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 4.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 22.0 inches of precipitation a year and 43.7 inches of snow.
Does Faulkton get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Faulkton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 9, 1957. 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)