The Town FilesHoward, South Dakota
City in Miner County · population 848 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $100,700
- Household income
- $60,313
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 49.4
Howard is a city of 848 people in Miner County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $100,700, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks quieter than 93% of South Dakota towns, better for families than 78% of South Dakota towns.
How Howard 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 Howard is worth $100,700, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $60,313, which is more affordable than 87% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $586 a month. 76.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Howard | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $100,700 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $586 | $785 |
| Median household income | $60,313 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 76.7% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.0% | — |
Who lives in Howard
| People | Howard | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.4 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.0% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.8% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.6% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 22.2 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.7% | 86.7% |
Weather in Howard
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 4.6°F. About 26.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.8 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Howard since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 16, 1992 about 4.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 24, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 20, 2004.
Severe weather in Miner County since 1996
Miner County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4807: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| June 29, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4656: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, 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 |
Jobs and pay in Miner County
Miner County had 805 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,524 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Howard itself the ACS puts it at 0.2%.
Public schools in Howard
3 public schools with 299 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Elementary - 02 | K-5 | 131 | 11.9 |
| Howard High School - 01 | 9-12 | 98 | 10.9 |
| Howard Jr. High - 05 | 6-8 | 70 | 17.5 |
Towns near Howard
- Madison, SD20.7 mi · 6,191 people · home $193,100
- Salem, SD21.1 mi · 1,325 people · home $166,700
- Lake Madison, SD25.1 mi · 829 people · home $477,800
- Lake Preston, SD25.3 mi · 589 people · home $130,000
- De Smet, SD25.9 mi · 1,056 people · home $165,200
- Alexandria, SD27.8 mi · 649 people · home $180,200
Howard questions
Is Howard, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Howard scores better for retirees than 49% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 93%. 31.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.4).
How much does a house cost in Howard?
The median owner-occupied home in Howard is valued at $100,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,313, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $586 a month.
What is the weather like in Howard?
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 4.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.4 inches of precipitation a year and 35.8 inches of snow.
Does Howard get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Howard since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 16, 1992. 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)