The Town FilesNorth Eagle Butte, South Dakota
Community in Dewey County · population 1,879 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $33,100
- Household income
- $34,358
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 23.7
North Eagle Butte is a community of 1,879 people in Dewey County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $33,100, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks more vibrant than 81% of South Dakota towns, more walkable than 71% of South Dakota towns.
How North Eagle Butte 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 North Eagle Butte is worth $33,100, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 1.0 times the median household income of $34,358, which is more affordable than 98% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $727 a month. 41.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Eagle Butte | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $33,100 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $727 | $785 |
| Median household income | $34,358 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 41.4% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in North Eagle Butte
| People | North Eagle Butte | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 23.7 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.7% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 37.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.0% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 52.6% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 12.3 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.6% | 86.7% |
Weather in North Eagle Butte
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 8.8°F. About 19.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.8 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Eagle Butte since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 16, 2010 about 5.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 16, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 25, 1984.
Severe weather in Dewey County since 1996
Dewey 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 |
| June 7, 2019 | Flood | DR-4440: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| February 1, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4298: Severe Winter Storm |
| July 28, 2014 | Flood | DR-4186: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dewey County
Dewey County had 2,447 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,085 a year. Unemployment was 5.7% in 2023; in North Eagle Butte itself the ACS puts it at 27.5%.
Towns near North Eagle Butte
- Eagle Butte, SD1.9 mi · 1,258 people · home $65,900
- Timber Lake, SD29.2 mi · 509 people · home $81,400
North Eagle Butte questions
Is North Eagle Butte, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Eagle Butte scores better for retirees than 19% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 9%. 8.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 23.7).
How much does a house cost in North Eagle Butte?
The median owner-occupied home in North Eagle Butte is valued at $33,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $34,358, so homes cost about 1.0 times income. Median rent is $727 a month.
What is the weather like in North Eagle Butte?
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 8.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.3 inches of precipitation a year and 36.8 inches of snow.
Does North Eagle Butte get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Eagle Butte since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 16, 2010. 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)