The Town FilesLead, South Dakota
City in Lawrence County · population 2,982 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $189,400
- Household income
- $73,047
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 184 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 46.5
Lead is a city of 2,982 people in Lawrence County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $189,400, close to the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks more walkable than 100% of South Dakota towns, hipper than 100% of South Dakota towns, more of a college town than 99% of South Dakota towns.
How Lead 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 Lead is worth $189,400, close to the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $73,047, which is more affordable than 54% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $835 a month. 70.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lead | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $189,400 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $835 | $785 |
| Median household income | $73,047 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 70.3% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.4% | — |
Who lives in Lead
| People | Lead | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.5 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.2% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 14.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.5% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 2.0% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 20.1 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.4% | 86.7% |
Weather in Lead
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 17.7°F. About 31.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 183.9 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 167 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lead since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 12, 1965 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 10, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 158 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 29, 2018.
Severe weather in Lawrence County since 1996
Lawrence County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
| October 7, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4467: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| November 8, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4155: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| June 28, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4125: Severe Storms, Tornado, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lawrence County
Lawrence County had 13,566 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,201 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Lead itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Lead
2 public schools with 362 students, about 10.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead-Deadwood High School - 01 | 9-12 | 218 | 11.5 |
| Lead-Deadwood Middle School - 02 | 6-8 | 144 | 9.6 |
Towns near Lead
- Spearfish, SD9.9 mi · 12,193 people · home $346,200
- Sturgis, SD13.8 mi · 7,020 people · home $271,200
- Belle Fourche, SD22.0 mi · 5,617 people · home $222,500
- Summerset, SD23.8 mi · 2,972 people · home $368,300
- Blackhawk, SD25.6 mi · 3,026 people · home $273,300
Lead questions
Is Lead, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lead scores better for retirees than 55% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 31%. 27.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.5).
How much does a house cost in Lead?
The median owner-occupied home in Lead is valued at $189,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,047, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $835 a month.
What is the weather like in Lead?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 17.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.8 inches of precipitation a year and 183.9 inches of snow.
Does Lead get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lead since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 12, 1965. 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)