The Town FilesMartin, South Dakota
City in Bennett County · population 938 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $103,900
- Household income
- $54,063
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 34.3
Martin is a city of 938 people in Bennett County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $103,900, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of South Dakota towns, hipper than 91% of South Dakota towns, more walkable than 85% of South Dakota towns.
How Martin 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 Martin is worth $103,900, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $54,063, which is more affordable than 79% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $638 a month. 63.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Martin | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $103,900 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $638 | $785 |
| Median household income | $54,063 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 63.6% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Martin
| People | Martin | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.3 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 33.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.5% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.5% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 9.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 9.9 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.2% | 86.7% |
Weather in Martin
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 12.7°F. About 20.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.4 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Martin since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 6, 1963 about 2.0 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 63 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 25, 2024.
Severe weather in Bennett County since 1996
Bennett County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4938: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4807: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| February 27, 2023 | Winter Storm | DR-4689: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Bennett County
Bennett County had 846 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,513 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Martin itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Martin
3 public schools with 471 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bennett County Elementary School - 03 | PK-5 | 229 | 11.5 |
| Bennett County High School - 01 | 9-12 | 128 | 10.7 |
| Bennett County Middle School - 06 | 6-8 | 114 | 16.3 |
Towns near Martin
- Wanblee, SD27.6 mi · 674 people · home —
- Kyle, SD28.4 mi · 943 people · home $9,999
Martin questions
Is Martin, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Martin scores better for retirees than 6% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 3%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.3).
How much does a house cost in Martin?
The median owner-occupied home in Martin is valued at $103,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,063, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $638 a month.
What is the weather like in Martin?
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 12.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.7 inches of precipitation a year and 48.4 inches of snow.
Does Martin get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Martin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 6, 1963. 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)