The Town FilesHot Springs, South Dakota
City in Fall River County · population 3,395 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $202,600
- Household income
- $66,338
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 59.4
Hot Springs is a city of 3,395 people in Fall River County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $202,600, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for cycling than 100% of South Dakota towns, quieter than 91% of South Dakota towns, hipper than 90% of South Dakota towns.
How Hot Springs 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 Hot Springs is worth $202,600, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $66,338, which is more affordable than 30% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $897 a month. 62.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hot Springs | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $202,600 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $897 | $785 |
| Median household income | $66,338 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 62.3% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1946 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hot Springs
| People | Hot Springs | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.4 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 37.7% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 12.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.9% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.1% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 17.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 13.5 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.6% | 86.7% |
Weather in Hot Springs
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 14.1°F. About 18.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.0 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 41 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 Hot Springs since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 14, 1969 about 5.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 7, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 155 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on May 24, 2010.
Severe weather in Fall River County since 1996
Fall River County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4903: Straight-Line Winds |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
| September 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4463: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 7, 2019 | Flood | DR-4440: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Fall River County
Fall River County had 2,516 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,214 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Hot Springs itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Hot Springs
3 public schools with 739 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Springs Elementary - 02 | PK-5 | 332 | 12.8 |
| Hot Springs High School - 01 | 9-12 | 228 | 12.7 |
| Hot Springs Middle School - 06 | 6-8 | 179 | 11.9 |
Towns near Hot Springs
- Edgemont, SD20.3 mi · 725 people · home $103,000
- Custer, SD24.9 mi · 1,919 people · home $235,600
Hot Springs questions
Is Hot Springs, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hot Springs scores better for retirees than 88% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 91%. 37.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.4).
How much does a house cost in Hot Springs?
The median owner-occupied home in Hot Springs is valued at $202,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,338, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $897 a month.
What is the weather like in Hot Springs?
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 14.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 18.6 inches of precipitation a year and 32.0 inches of snow.
Does Hot Springs get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hot Springs since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 14, 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)