The Town FilesFreeman, South Dakota
City in Hutchinson County · population 1,329 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $164,200
- Household income
- $57,440
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 37.8
Freeman is a city of 1,329 people in Hutchinson County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $164,200, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for cycling than 93% of South Dakota towns, better for first-time buyers than 85% of South Dakota towns, easier by car than 76% of South Dakota towns.
How Freeman 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 Freeman is worth $164,200, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $57,440, which is more affordable than 45% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $741 a month. 75.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Freeman | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $164,200 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $741 | $785 |
| Median household income | $57,440 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 75.1% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Freeman
| People | Freeman | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 32.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.3% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.9% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 3.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 3.5% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 15.8 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 86.7% |
Weather in Freeman
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 9.9°F. About 25.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.1 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Freeman since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 26, 1965 about 4.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 5, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 28, 2011.
Severe weather in Hutchinson County since 1996
Hutchinson County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4807: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| June 29, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4656: 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 |
| November 18, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4469: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Hutchinson County
Hutchinson County had 2,756 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,418 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Freeman itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Freeman
3 public schools with 344 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freeman Elementary - 02 | K-6 | 188 | 14.5 |
| Freeman High School - 01 | 9-12 | 95 | 9.5 |
| Freeman Jr High - 05 | 7-8 | 61 | 15.3 |
Towns near Freeman
- Marion, SD10.0 mi · 849 people · home $164,500
- Menno, SD10.5 mi · 614 people · home $111,500
- Bridgewater, SD14.4 mi · 511 people · home $116,100
- Parker, SD15.3 mi · 1,194 people · home $231,100
- Canistota, SD18.6 mi · 631 people · home $137,000
- Scotland, SD20.0 mi · 785 people · home $110,700
- Viborg, SD21.3 mi · 814 people · home $156,700
- Salem, SD26.0 mi · 1,325 people · home $166,700
Freeman questions
Is Freeman, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Freeman scores better for retirees than 73% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 46%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Freeman?
The median owner-occupied home in Freeman is valued at $164,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,440, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $741 a month.
What is the weather like in Freeman?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 9.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 25.0 inches of precipitation a year and 40.1 inches of snow.
Does Freeman get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Freeman since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 26, 1965. 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)