The Town FilesGettysburg, South Dakota
City in Potter County · population 1,104 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $125,000
- Household income
- $63,929
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 52.0
Gettysburg is a city of 1,104 people in Potter County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $125,000, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of South Dakota towns, better for retirees than 92% of South Dakota towns, better for first-time buyers than 88% of South Dakota towns.
How Gettysburg 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 Gettysburg is worth $125,000, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $63,929, which is more affordable than 77% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $1,051 a month. 79.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gettysburg | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $125,000 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $1,051 | $785 |
| Median household income | $63,929 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 79.8% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Gettysburg
| People | Gettysburg | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.0 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.1% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.3% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.8% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 12.7 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 86.7% |
Weather in Gettysburg
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 5.3°F. About 20.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.7 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 176 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gettysburg since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 19, 1955 about 1.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 16, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 25, 1960.
Severe weather in Potter County since 1996
Potter County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 6, 2023 | Flood | DR-4718: 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 |
| June 7, 2019 | Flood | DR-4440: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Potter County
Potter County had 821 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,301 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Gettysburg itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Public schools in Gettysburg
3 public schools with 220 students, about 10.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gettysburg Elementary - 02 | K-5 | 97 | 8.8 |
| Gettysburg High School - 01 | 9-12 | 73 | 9.1 |
| Gettysburg Middle School - 03 | 6-8 | 50 | 16.7 |
Towns near Gettysburg
- Onida, SD21.5 mi · 666 people · home $178,600
Gettysburg questions
Is Gettysburg, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gettysburg scores better for retirees than 92% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 74%. 30.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.0).
How much does a house cost in Gettysburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Gettysburg is valued at $125,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,929, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $1,051 a month.
What is the weather like in Gettysburg?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 5.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.2 inches of precipitation a year and 38.7 inches of snow.
Does Gettysburg get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gettysburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 19, 1955. 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)