The Town FilesMcLaughlin, South Dakota
City in Corson County · population 569 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $62,400
- Household income
- $62,159
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 30.5
McLaughlin is a city of 569 people in Corson County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $62,400, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of South Dakota towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of South Dakota towns.
How McLaughlin 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 McLaughlin is worth $62,400, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 1.0 times the median household income of $62,159, which is more affordable than 98% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $923 a month. 76.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | McLaughlin | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $62,400 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $923 | $785 |
| Median household income | $62,159 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 76.3% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in McLaughlin
| People | McLaughlin | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.5 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.4% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 30.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.1% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.0% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 19.9 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in McLaughlin
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 3.6°F. About 20.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.9 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 186 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McLaughlin since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 7, 1969 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 14, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 26, 2008.
Severe weather in Corson County since 1996
Corson County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
| July 28, 2014 | Flood | DR-4186: 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 Corson County
Corson County had 755 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,202 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in McLaughlin itself the ACS puts it at 16.9%.
Public schools in McLaughlin
3 public schools with 427 students, about 9.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| McLaughlin Elementary - 02 | PK-5 | 209 | 11.6 |
| McLaughlin High School - 01 | 9-12 | 147 | 8.6 |
| McLaughlin Middle School - 03 | 6-8 | 71 | 8.9 |
Towns near McLaughlin
- Mobridge, SD26.1 mi · 3,261 people · home $136,800
- Timber Lake, SD29.4 mi · 509 people · home $81,400
McLaughlin questions
Is McLaughlin, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, McLaughlin scores better for retirees than 14% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 26%. 10.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.5).
How much does a house cost in McLaughlin?
The median owner-occupied home in McLaughlin is valued at $62,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,159, so homes cost about 1.0 times income. Median rent is $923 a month.
What is the weather like in McLaughlin?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 3.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.1 inches of precipitation a year and 34.9 inches of snow.
Does McLaughlin get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McLaughlin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 7, 1969. 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)