The Town FilesHill City, South Dakota
City in Pennington County · population 872 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $286,200
- Household income
- $95,385
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 67 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 34.2
Hill City is a city of 872 people in Pennington County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $286,200, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of South Dakota towns, quieter than 89% of South Dakota towns, better for retirees than 88% of South Dakota towns.
How Hill City 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 Hill City is worth $286,200, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $95,385, which is more affordable than 38% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $1,345 a month. 73.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hill City | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $286,200 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $1,345 | $785 |
| Median household income | $95,385 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 73.9% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 18.8% | — |
Who lives in Hill City
| People | Hill City | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.2 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.4% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 32.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.7% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.6% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 86.7% |
Weather in Hill City
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 9.6°F. About 22.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 66.6 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 212 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hill City since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 23, 1966 about 5.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 23, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 236 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on July 27, 2015.
Severe weather in Pennington County since 1996
Pennington County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4903: Straight-Line Winds |
| October 4, 2021 | Fire | FM-5418: Auburn Fire |
| March 29, 2021 | Fire | FM-5384: Schroeder Fire |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Pennington County
Pennington County had 62,114 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,286 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Hill City itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Hill City
3 public schools with 508 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hill City Elementary - 02 | PK-5 | 236 | 13.9 |
| Hill City High School - 01 | 9-12 | 154 | 14.0 |
| Hill City Middle School - 04 | 6-8 | 118 | 19.7 |
Towns near Hill City
- Custer, SD11.5 mi · 1,919 people · home $235,600
- Johnson Siding, SD12.4 mi · 614 people · home $471,700
- Colonial Pine Hills, SD13.8 mi · 1,903 people · home $406,500
- Blackhawk, SD19.1 mi · 3,026 people · home $273,300
- Rapid City, SD19.9 mi · 74,703 people · home $299,400
- Summerset, SD21.3 mi · 2,972 people · home $368,300
- Wonderland Homes, SD21.9 mi · 718 people · home $264,900
- Piedmont, SD22.1 mi · 971 people · home $324,200
Hill City questions
Is Hill City, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hill City scores better for retirees than 88% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 89%. 11.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.2).
How much does a house cost in Hill City?
The median owner-occupied home in Hill City is valued at $286,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $95,385, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,345 a month.
What is the weather like in Hill City?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 9.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 22.4 inches of precipitation a year and 66.6 inches of snow.
Does Hill City get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hill City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 23, 1966. 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)