The Town FilesHighmore, South Dakota
City in Hyde County · population 682 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $151,800
- Household income
- $103,017
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 47.4
Highmore is a city of 682 people in Hyde County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $151,800, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better transit than 92% of South Dakota towns, quieter than 88% of South Dakota towns, better for retirees than 84% of South Dakota towns.
How Highmore 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 Highmore is worth $151,800, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $103,017, which is more affordable than 92% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $980 a month. 87.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Highmore | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,800 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $980 | $785 |
| Median household income | $103,017 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 87.7% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Highmore
| People | Highmore | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.4 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.8% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.5% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.2% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 9.5 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.0% | 86.7% |
Weather in Highmore
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 6.6°F. About 22.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.0 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highmore since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. The strongest, an F1, struck on August 5, 1968 about 8.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 30, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 9, 1979.
Severe weather in Hyde County since 1996
Hyde County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4938: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And 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 Hyde County
Hyde County had 533 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,079 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Highmore itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Highmore
3 public schools with 244 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highmore Elementary - 02 | PK-6 | 138 | 13.8 |
| Highmore High School - 01 | 9-12 | 63 | 9.0 |
| Highmore Jr. High - 03 | 7-8 | 43 | 14.3 |
Towns near Highmore
- Miller, SD22.3 mi · 1,349 people · home $155,200
Highmore questions
Is Highmore, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Highmore scores better for retirees than 84% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 88%. 26.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.4).
How much does a house cost in Highmore?
The median owner-occupied home in Highmore is valued at $151,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $103,017, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $980 a month.
What is the weather like in Highmore?
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 6.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 22.8 inches of precipitation a year and 40.0 inches of snow.
Does Highmore get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highmore since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on August 5, 1968. 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)