The Town FilesLake Andes, South Dakota
City in Charles Mix County · population 710 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $58,800
- Household income
- $47,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 30.0
Lake Andes is a city of 710 people in Charles Mix County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $58,800, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better transit than 96% of South Dakota towns, better for young professionals than 79% of South Dakota towns, better for first-time buyers than 78% of South Dakota towns.
How Lake Andes 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 Lake Andes is worth $58,800, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $47,500, which is more affordable than 95% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $762 a month. 70.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Andes | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $58,800 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $762 | $785 |
| Median household income | $47,500 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 70.6% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Lake Andes
| People | Lake Andes | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.0 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.1% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 38.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.0% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 36.2% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 3.5% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 16.2 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.5% | 86.7% |
Weather in Lake Andes
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 11.7°F. About 24.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.3 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Andes since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 5, 2008 about 6.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 28, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 29, 2001.
Severe weather in Charles Mix County since 1996
Charles Mix County has been included in 17 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 |
| June 7, 2019 | Flood | DR-4440: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Charles Mix County
Charles Mix County had 3,548 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,616 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Lake Andes itself the ACS puts it at 7.9%.
Public schools in Lake Andes
4 public schools with 322 students, about 10.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andes Central Elementary - 02 | PK-5 | 179 | 11.2 |
| Andes Central High School - 01 | 9-12 | 62 | 7.8 |
| Andes Central Middle School - 04 | 6-8 | 56 | 9.3 |
| Lakeview Colony Elementary - 05 | K-8 | 25 | 12.5 |
Towns near Lake Andes
- Marty, SD12.3 mi · 677 people · home —
- Wagner, SD13.6 mi · 1,490 people · home $136,000
- Armour, SD14.9 mi · 698 people · home $105,500
- Corsica, SD19.5 mi · 561 people · home $162,500
- Platte, SD22.2 mi · 1,296 people · home $179,200
- Avon, SD26.3 mi · 586 people · home $107,600
- Tripp, SD29.2 mi · 575 people · home $66,300
Lake Andes questions
Is Lake Andes, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Andes scores better for retirees than 40% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 40%. 15.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.0).
How much does a house cost in Lake Andes?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Andes is valued at $58,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,500, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $762 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Andes?
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 11.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.4 inches of precipitation a year and 31.3 inches of snow.
Does Lake Andes get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Andes since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 5, 2008. 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)