The Town FilesHarrisburg, South Dakota
City in Lincoln County · population 6,732 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $312,200
- Household income
- $108,724
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 31.1
Harrisburg is a city of 6,732 people in Lincoln County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $312,200, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks more upscale than 94% of South Dakota towns, more walkable than 88% of South Dakota towns, easier by car than 86% of South Dakota towns.
How Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg is worth $312,200, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $108,724, which is more affordable than 45% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $1,362 a month. 78.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Harrisburg | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $312,200 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $1,362 | $785 |
| Median household income | $108,724 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 78.4% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 2008 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Harrisburg
| People | Harrisburg | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.1 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 3.7% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 34.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.8% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 0.5% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 12.2% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.7% | 86.7% |
Weather in Harrisburg
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 5.8°F. About 27.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.0 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harrisburg since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 19, 1954 about 3.2 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 194 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 18, 2004.
Severe weather in Lincoln County since 1996
Lincoln 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 |
| 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 |
| June 7, 2019 | Flood | DR-4440: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lincoln County
Lincoln County had 29,694 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,125 a year. Unemployment was 1.6% in 2023; in Harrisburg itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Public schools in Harrisburg
4 public schools with 3,236 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg High School - 01 | 9-12 | 1,762 | 14.2 |
| Harrisburg South Middle School - 03 | 6-8 | 540 | 12.0 |
| Liberty Elementary - 02 | PK-5 | 532 | 14.4 |
| Freedom Elementary - 06 | K-5 | 402 | 13.0 |
Towns near Harrisburg
- Tea, SD5.8 mi · 5,598 people · home $351,100
- Sioux Falls, SD7.4 mi · 192,517 people · home $292,400
- Canton, SD11.1 mi · 3,066 people · home $191,400
- Brandon, SD12.7 mi · 11,048 people · home $336,600
- Hartford, SD17.1 mi · 3,354 people · home $257,700
- Rock Valley, IA26.6 mi · 4,059 people · home $231,200
- Dell Rapids, SD27.0 mi · 3,996 people · home $301,700
- Rock Rapids, IA27.4 mi · 2,611 people · home $206,700
Harrisburg questions
Is Harrisburg, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Harrisburg scores better for retirees than 3% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 19%. 3.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.1).
How much does a house cost in Harrisburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Harrisburg is valued at $312,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $108,724, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,362 a month.
What is the weather like in Harrisburg?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 5.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 27.8 inches of precipitation a year and 49.0 inches of snow.
Does Harrisburg get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harrisburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 19, 1954. 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)