The Town FilesFort Pierre, South Dakota
City in Stanley County · population 2,115 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $220,900
- Household income
- $70,357
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 44.2
Fort Pierre is a city of 2,115 people in Stanley County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $220,900, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks quieter than 97% of South Dakota towns, better for cycling than 94% of South Dakota towns, better transit than 94% of South Dakota towns.
How Fort Pierre 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 Fort Pierre is worth $220,900, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $70,357, which is more affordable than 30% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $913 a month. 81.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fort Pierre | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $220,900 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $913 | $785 |
| Median household income | $70,357 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 81.8% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Fort Pierre
| People | Fort Pierre | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.0% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.7% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 17.4 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.4% | 86.7% |
Weather in Fort Pierre
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 9.3°F. About 20.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.2 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 164 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Pierre since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 23, 1973 about 2.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 16, 1997.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 101 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 18, 2023.
Severe weather in Stanley County since 1996
Stanley County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4938: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 27, 2023 | Winter Storm | DR-4689: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
| February 1, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4298: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Stanley County
Stanley County had 1,327 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,989 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Fort Pierre itself the ACS puts it at 0.6%.
Public schools in Fort Pierre
3 public schools with 408 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanley County Elementary - 08 | K-5 | 177 | 11.8 |
| Stanley County High School - 01 | 9-12 | 134 | 14.9 |
| Stanley County Middle School - 02 | 6-8 | 97 | 12.1 |
Towns near Fort Pierre
- Pierre, SD3.1 mi · 14,091 people · home $230,700
- Oahe Acres, SD7.0 mi · 503 people · home $277,100
- Onida, SD28.0 mi · 666 people · home $178,600
Fort Pierre questions
Is Fort Pierre, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fort Pierre scores better for retirees than 78% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 97%. 24.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.2).
How much does a house cost in Fort Pierre?
The median owner-occupied home in Fort Pierre is valued at $220,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,357, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $913 a month.
What is the weather like in Fort Pierre?
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 9.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.2 inches of precipitation a year and 37.2 inches of snow.
Does Fort Pierre get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Pierre since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 23, 1973. 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)