The Town FilesOnida, South Dakota
City in Sully County · population 666 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $178,600
- Household income
- $70,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 42.2
Onida is a city of 666 people in Sully County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $178,600, close to the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks quieter than 99% of South Dakota towns, better for retirees than 85% of South Dakota towns, hipper than 81% of South Dakota towns.
How Onida 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 Onida is worth $178,600, close to the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $70,000, which is more affordable than 54% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $939 a month. 80.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Onida | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $178,600 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $939 | $785 |
| Median household income | $70,000 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 80.1% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Onida
| People | Onida | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.4% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.6% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.9% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 18.2 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.5% | 86.7% |
Weather in Onida
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 7.4°F. About 21.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.8 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 30 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 172 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Onida since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on October 1, 1971 about 5.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 13, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 21, 2007.
Severe weather in Sully County since 1996
Sully 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 |
| May 13, 2011 | Flood | DR-1984: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Sully County
Sully County had 679 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,514 a year. Unemployment was 1.6% in 2023; in Onida itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Onida
3 public schools with 215 students, about 9.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onida Elementary - 04 | K-5 | 85 | 9.4 |
| Sully Buttes High School - 07 | 9-12 | 72 | 10.3 |
| Sully Buttes Middle School - 06 | 6-8 | 58 | 9.7 |
Towns near Onida
- Oahe Acres, SD21.5 mi · 503 people · home $277,100
- Gettysburg, SD21.5 mi · 1,104 people · home $125,000
- Pierre, SD26.0 mi · 14,091 people · home $230,700
- Fort Pierre, SD28.0 mi · 2,115 people · home $220,900
Onida questions
Is Onida, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Onida scores better for retirees than 85% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 99%. 22.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.2).
How much does a house cost in Onida?
The median owner-occupied home in Onida is valued at $178,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,000, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $939 a month.
What is the weather like in Onida?
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 7.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 21.1 inches of precipitation a year and 48.8 inches of snow.
Does Onida get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Onida since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on October 1, 1971. 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)