The Town FilesGarretson, South Dakota
City in Minnehaha County · population 1,228 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $203,800
- Household income
- $59,741
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 48.5
Garretson is a city of 1,228 people in Minnehaha County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $203,800, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks easier by car than 99% of South Dakota towns, more upscale than 78% of South Dakota towns, better for families than 72% of South Dakota towns.
How Garretson 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 Garretson is worth $203,800, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $59,741, which is more affordable than 20% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $697 a month. 62.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Garretson | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $203,800 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $697 | $785 |
| Median household income | $59,741 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 62.7% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Garretson
| People | Garretson | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.5 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.6% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.2% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.3% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 25.9 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.0% | 86.7% |
Weather in Garretson
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 6.4°F. About 29.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.7 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garretson since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 25, 1969 about 4.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 30, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 18, 1990.
Severe weather in Minnehaha County since 1996
Minnehaha County has been included in 17 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 |
| 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 Minnehaha County
Minnehaha County had 138,556 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,100 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Garretson itself the ACS puts it at 6.4%.
Public schools in Garretson
3 public schools with 481 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garretson Elementary - 02 | PK-5 | 248 | 14.6 |
| Garretson High School - 01 | 9-12 | 136 | 12.4 |
| Garretson Middle School - 03 | 6-8 | 97 | 13.9 |
Towns near Garretson
- Brandon, SD9.3 mi · 11,048 people · home $336,600
- Valley Springs, SD9.4 mi · 885 people · home $192,600
- Jasper, MN10.6 mi · 610 people · home $76,900
- Meadow View Addition, SD11.7 mi · 531 people · home $250,600
- Baltic, SD12.1 mi · 1,246 people · home $254,200
- Dell Rapids, SD13.0 mi · 3,996 people · home $301,700
- Hills, MN14.8 mi · 686 people · home $197,200
- Luverne, MN15.1 mi · 4,946 people · home $208,000
Garretson questions
Is Garretson, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Garretson scores better for retirees than 29% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 55%. 23.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.5).
How much does a house cost in Garretson?
The median owner-occupied home in Garretson is valued at $203,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,741, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $697 a month.
What is the weather like in Garretson?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 6.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.6 inches of precipitation a year and 44.7 inches of snow.
Does Garretson get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garretson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 25, 1969. 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)