The Town FilesParker, South Dakota
City in Turner County · population 1,194 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $231,100
- Household income
- $89,676
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 36.4
Parker is a city of 1,194 people in Turner County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $231,100, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks easier by car than 92% of South Dakota towns, better for first-time buyers than 90% of South Dakota towns, better for cycling than 72% of South Dakota towns.
How Parker 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 Parker is worth $231,100, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $89,676, which is more affordable than 54% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $971 a month. 78.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Parker | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $231,100 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $971 | $785 |
| Median household income | $89,676 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 78.6% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Parker
| People | Parker | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.4 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.3% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.9% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.1% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 24.9 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.8% | 86.7% |
Weather in Parker
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 7.7°F. About 27.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.9 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Parker since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 3, 1981 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 24, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on July 14, 1970.
Severe weather in Turner County since 1996
Turner County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4807: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| June 29, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4656: 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 |
| November 18, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4469: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Turner County
Turner County had 2,389 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,661 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Parker itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Parker
3 public schools with 469 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parker Elementary - 02 | PK-6 | 253 | 14.1 |
| Parker High School - 01 | 9-12 | 147 | 14.7 |
| Parker Jr. High - 03 | 7-8 | 69 | 17.3 |
Towns near Parker
- Marion, SD6.6 mi · 849 people · home $164,500
- Lennox, SD12.5 mi · 2,423 people · home $235,900
- Freeman, SD15.3 mi · 1,329 people · home $164,200
- Viborg, SD15.8 mi · 814 people · home $156,700
- Canistota, SD16.0 mi · 631 people · home $137,000
- Tea, SD16.0 mi · 5,598 people · home $351,100
- Humboldt, SD17.3 mi · 579 people · home $227,700
- Hartford, SD18.4 mi · 3,354 people · home $257,700
Parker questions
Is Parker, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Parker scores better for retirees than 52% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 69%. 14.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.4).
How much does a house cost in Parker?
The median owner-occupied home in Parker is valued at $231,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,676, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $971 a month.
What is the weather like in Parker?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 7.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 27.9 inches of precipitation a year and 40.9 inches of snow.
Does Parker get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Parker since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 3, 1981. 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)