The Town FilesMitchell, South Dakota
City in Davison County · population 15,660 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $192,200
- Household income
- $58,620
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 39.6
Mitchell is a city of 15,660 people in Davison County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $192,200, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks more walkable than 98% of South Dakota towns, more vibrant than 95% of South Dakota towns, hipper than 94% of South Dakota towns.
How Mitchell 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 Mitchell is worth $192,200, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $58,620, which is more affordable than 23% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $851 a month. 56.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mitchell | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $192,200 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $851 | $785 |
| Median household income | $58,620 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 56.6% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Mitchell
| People | Mitchell | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.1% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.6% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.5% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 12.8 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.7% | 86.7% |
Weather in Mitchell
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 9.3°F. About 21.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.6 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mitchell since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 20, 1968 about 4.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 5, 2007.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 79 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 14, 1962.
Severe weather in Davison County since 1996
Davison County has been included in 15 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 |
| 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 |
| June 7, 2019 | Flood | DR-4440: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Davison County
Davison County had 12,546 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,296 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Mitchell itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Public schools in Mitchell
10 public schools with 2,730 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell High School - 01 | 9-12 | 909 | 18.2 |
| Mitchell Middle School - 02 | 6-8 | 609 | 14.9 |
| L. B. Williams Elementary - 03 | K-5 | 444 | 13.1 |
| Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary - 04 | K-5 | 382 | 14.1 |
| Longfellow Elementary - 05 | K-5 | 312 | 10.4 |
| Abbott House High School - 07 | 9-12 | 30 | 30.0 |
| Rosedale Colony Elementary - 11 | K-8 | 24 | 24.0 |
| Abbott House Elementary - 06 | K-8 | 8 | 8.0 |
| Millbrook Colony Elementary - 04 | K-8 | 7 | 7.0 |
| Hanson Colony Alternative High School - 07 | 9-12 | 5 | — |
Towns near Mitchell
- Alexandria, SD14.0 mi · 649 people · home $180,200
- Plankinton, SD22.1 mi · 781 people · home $114,800
- Parkston, SD23.3 mi · 1,567 people · home $157,100
- Woonsocket, SD25.3 mi · 631 people · home $80,800
- Corsica, SD27.9 mi · 561 people · home $162,500
- Bridgewater, SD29.8 mi · 511 people · home $116,100
Mitchell questions
Is Mitchell, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mitchell scores better for retirees than 26% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 7%. 22.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.6).
How much does a house cost in Mitchell?
The median owner-occupied home in Mitchell is valued at $192,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,620, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $851 a month.
What is the weather like in Mitchell?
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 9.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 21.1 inches of precipitation a year and 40.6 inches of snow.
Does Mitchell get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mitchell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 20, 1968. 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)