The Town FilesMadison, South Dakota
City in Lake County · population 6,191 (2020 Census)
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- Median home
- $193,100
- Household income
- $65,593
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 40.1
Madison is a city of 6,191 people in Lake County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $193,100, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks hipper than 97% of South Dakota towns, more walkable than 96% of South Dakota towns, better for young professionals than 95% of South Dakota towns.
How Madison 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 Madison is worth $193,100, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $65,593, which is more affordable than 45% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $981 a month. 60.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Madison | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $193,100 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $981 | $785 |
| Median household income | $65,593 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 60.2% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Madison
| People | Madison | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.7% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.3% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.5% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 11.4 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.0% | 86.7% |
Weather in Madison
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 5.0°F. About 26.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.8 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Madison since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 21, 1961 about 1.5 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 63 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 11, 2000.
Severe weather in Lake County since 1996
Lake 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 Lake County
Lake County had 5,221 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,802 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Madison itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Madison
4 public schools with 1,217 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison Elementary - 07 | K-5 | 507 | 15.8 |
| Madison High School - 01 | 9-12 | 397 | 15.9 |
| Madison Middle School - 02 | 6-8 | 274 | 12.5 |
| Rustic Acres Elementary - 04 | K-8 | 39 | 13.0 |
Towns near Madison
- Lake Madison, SD5.4 mi · 829 people · home $477,800
- Colman, SD14.7 mi · 634 people · home $235,800
- Colton, SD17.6 mi · 738 people · home $192,900
- Howard, SD20.7 mi · 848 people · home $100,700
- Dell Rapids, SD23.3 mi · 3,996 people · home $301,700
- Volga, SD23.7 mi · 2,113 people · home $240,000
- Salem, SD24.1 mi · 1,325 people · home $166,700
- Arlington, SD24.7 mi · 915 people · home $144,300
Madison questions
Is Madison, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Madison scores better for retirees than 75% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 6%. 22.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.1).
How much does a house cost in Madison?
The median owner-occupied home in Madison is valued at $193,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,593, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $981 a month.
What is the weather like in Madison?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 5.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.4 inches of precipitation a year and 36.8 inches of snow.
Does Madison get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Madison since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 21, 1961. 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)