The Town FilesGroton, South Dakota
City in Brown County · population 1,380 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $190,600
- Household income
- $89,861
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 33.9
Groton is a city of 1,380 people in Brown County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $190,600, close to the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for families than 97% of South Dakota towns, easier by car than 94% of South Dakota towns, more of a college town than 74% of South Dakota towns.
How Groton 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 Groton is worth $190,600, close to the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $89,861, which is more affordable than 74% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $981 a month. 73.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Groton | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $190,600 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $981 | $785 |
| Median household income | $89,861 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 73.1% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Groton
| People | Groton | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.9 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.0% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 30.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.5% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.3% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 16.8 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.3% | 86.7% |
Weather in Groton
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 4.6°F. About 24.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.3 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Groton since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 25, 1969 about 1.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 13, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 57 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 21, 1961.
Severe weather in Brown County since 1996
Brown County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, biological.
| 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 |
| May 13, 2011 | Flood | DR-1984: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Brown County
Brown County had 19,808 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,430 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Groton itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Public schools in Groton
3 public schools with 601 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groton Area Elementary - 02 | PK-5 | 304 | 16.0 |
| Groton Area High School - 01 | 9-12 | 171 | 12.2 |
| Groton Area Middle School - 04 | 6-8 | 126 | 14.0 |
Towns near Groton
- Aberdeen, SD17.9 mi · 28,495 people · home $217,300
- Britton, SD28.9 mi · 1,215 people · home $110,200
- Webster, SD29.2 mi · 1,728 people · home $154,100
Groton questions
Is Groton, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Groton scores better for retirees than 59% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 59%. 13.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.9).
How much does a house cost in Groton?
The median owner-occupied home in Groton is valued at $190,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,861, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $981 a month.
What is the weather like in Groton?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 4.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.0 inches of precipitation a year and 32.3 inches of snow.
Does Groton get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Groton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 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)