The Town FilesKimball, South Dakota
City in Brule County · population 572 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $152,800
- Household income
- $52,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 49.7
Kimball is a city of 572 people in Brule County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $152,800, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better transit than 88% of South Dakota towns, hipper than 85% of South Dakota towns, better for young professionals than 81% of South Dakota towns.
How Kimball 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 Kimball is worth $152,800, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $52,917, which is more affordable than 45% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $814 a month. 71.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kimball | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,800 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $814 | $785 |
| Median household income | $52,917 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 71.0% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Kimball
| People | Kimball | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.7 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.4% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.8% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 17.2 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.7% | 86.7% |
Weather in Kimball
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 8.2°F. About 23.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.5 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kimball since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 28, 1986 about 0.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 2, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 13, 2012.
Severe weather in Brule County since 1996
Brule County has been included in 21 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 |
| 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 |
| September 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4463: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Brule County
Brule County had 2,007 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,127 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Kimball itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Kimball
5 public schools with 363 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimball Elementary - 02 | PK-4 | 122 | 13.6 |
| Kimball Middle School - 04 | 5-8 | 96 | 13.7 |
| Kimball High School - 01 | 9-12 | 81 | 9.0 |
| Grass Ranch Colony Elementary - 13 | K-8 | 50 | 16.7 |
| Grass Ranch Colony High School - 15 | 9-12 | 14 | 14.0 |
Towns near Kimball
- Chamberlain, SD19.0 mi · 2,473 people · home $224,300
- Plankinton, SD23.7 mi · 781 people · home $114,800
- Platte, SD25.5 mi · 1,296 people · home $179,200
- Wessington Springs, SD30.0 mi · 771 people · home $111,300
Kimball questions
Is Kimball, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kimball scores better for retirees than 68% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 44%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.7).
How much does a house cost in Kimball?
The median owner-occupied home in Kimball is valued at $152,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,917, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $814 a month.
What is the weather like in Kimball?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 8.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 23.9 inches of precipitation a year and 40.5 inches of snow.
Does Kimball get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kimball since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 28, 1986. 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)