The Town FilesMiller, South Dakota
City in Hand County · population 1,349 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $155,200
- Household income
- $57,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 41.9
Miller is a city of 1,349 people in Hand County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $155,200, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of South Dakota towns, easier by car than 84% of South Dakota towns, more walkable than 83% of South Dakota towns.
How Miller 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 Miller is worth $155,200, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $57,500, which is more affordable than 50% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $564 a month. 66.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Miller | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $155,200 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $564 | $785 |
| Median household income | $57,500 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 66.2% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Miller
| People | Miller | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.3% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.1% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.6% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 11.1 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.3% | 86.7% |
Weather in Miller
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 7.0°F. About 22.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.7 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 172 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Miller since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 24, 2006 about 0.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 18, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 64 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 3, 1971.
Severe weather in Hand County since 1996
Hand County has been included in 22 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 |
| July 6, 2023 | Flood | DR-4718: Flooding |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Hand County
Hand County had 1,449 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,934 a year. Unemployment was 1.6% in 2023; in Miller itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Miller
5 public schools with 472 students, about 12.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miller Elementary - 02 | K-6 | 234 | 11.1 |
| Miller High School - 01 | 9-12 | 149 | 12.4 |
| Miller Jr. High - 04 | 7-8 | 56 | 14.0 |
| Millerdale Colony Elementary - 11 | K-8 | 33 | 33.0 |
| Miller Skillbuilders PK - 05 | PK-PK | — | — |
Towns near Miller
- Highmore, SD22.3 mi · 682 people · home $151,800
Miller questions
Is Miller, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Miller scores better for retirees than 97% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 60%. 29.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in Miller?
The median owner-occupied home in Miller is valued at $155,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,500, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $564 a month.
What is the weather like in Miller?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 7.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 22.3 inches of precipitation a year and 43.7 inches of snow.
Does Miller get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Miller since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 24, 2006. 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)