The Town FilesNewell, South Dakota
City in Butte County · population 584 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $141,300
- Household income
- $84,792
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 38.5
Newell is a city of 584 people in Butte County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $141,300, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks quieter than 98% of South Dakota towns, better transit than 91% of South Dakota towns, better for cycling than 80% of South Dakota towns.
How Newell 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 Newell is worth $141,300, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $84,792, which is more affordable than 87% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $1,125 a month. 92.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Newell | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $141,300 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $1,125 | $785 |
| Median household income | $84,792 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 92.1% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Newell
| People | Newell | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.4% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.6% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 15.1% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.1% | 86.7% |
Weather in Newell
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 9.8°F. About 16.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.8 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 30 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 178 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newell since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 20, 1955 about 0.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 1, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 82 times; the largest was 6.00 inches on June 19, 2015.
Severe weather in Butte County since 1996
Butte County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 2, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4664: 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 |
| October 7, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4467: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4463: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Butte County
Butte County had 2,940 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,795 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Newell itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Newell
3 public schools with 243 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newell Elementary - 02 | PK-5 | 125 | 15.6 |
| Newell High School - 01 | 9-12 | 66 | 9.4 |
| Newell Middle School - 04 | 6-8 | 52 | 10.4 |
Towns near Newell
- Whitewood, SD20.7 mi · 879 people · home $243,300
- Sturgis, SD21.6 mi · 7,020 people · home $271,200
- Belle Fourche, SD22.0 mi · 5,617 people · home $222,500
- Boulder Canyon, SD24.0 mi · 561 people · home $597,800
- Spearfish, SD25.0 mi · 12,193 people · home $346,200
- Deadwood, SD27.3 mi · 1,156 people · home $226,500
- North Spearfish, SD27.9 mi · 2,366 people · home $356,200
Newell questions
Is Newell, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Newell scores better for retirees than 47% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 98%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Newell?
The median owner-occupied home in Newell is valued at $141,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,792, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $1,125 a month.
What is the weather like in Newell?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 9.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.6 inches of precipitation a year and 39.8 inches of snow.
Does Newell get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 20, 1955. 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)