The Town FilesIpswich, South Dakota
City in Edmunds County · population 928 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $164,700
- Household income
- $74,167
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 34.9
Ipswich is a city of 928 people in Edmunds County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $164,700, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for families than 94% of South Dakota towns, more upscale than 89% of South Dakota towns, quieter than 87% of South Dakota towns.
How Ipswich 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 Ipswich is worth $164,700, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $74,167, which is more affordable than 70% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $1,053 a month. 69.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ipswich | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $164,700 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $1,053 | $785 |
| Median household income | $74,167 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 69.7% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ipswich
| People | Ipswich | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.9 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.9% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.6% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 10.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 16.9 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.5% | 86.7% |
Weather in Ipswich
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 3.0°F. About 20.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.7 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 180 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ipswich since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 22, 2010 about 6.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 23, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 11, 2000.
Severe weather in Edmunds County since 1996
Edmunds County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| February 1, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4298: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 13, 2011 | Flood | DR-1984: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Edmunds County
Edmunds County had 1,214 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,001 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Ipswich itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Ipswich
4 public schools with 383 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ipswich Elementary - 02 | PK-5 | 177 | 11.8 |
| Ipswich High School - 01 | 9-12 | 96 | 13.7 |
| Ipswich Middle School - 04 | 6-8 | 79 | 15.8 |
| Pembrook Colony Elementary - 06 | PK-8 | 31 | 31.0 |
Towns near Ipswich
- Mina, SD14.1 mi · 554 people · home $378,600
- Aberdeen, SD27.3 mi · 28,495 people · home $217,300
- Faulkton, SD28.7 mi · 826 people · home $99,600
Ipswich questions
Is Ipswich, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ipswich scores better for retirees than 86% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 87%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.9).
How much does a house cost in Ipswich?
The median owner-occupied home in Ipswich is valued at $164,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,167, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $1,053 a month.
What is the weather like in Ipswich?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 3.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.2 inches of precipitation a year and 33.7 inches of snow.
Does Ipswich get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ipswich since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 22, 2010. 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)