The Town FilesParkston, South Dakota
City in Hutchinson County · population 1,567 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,100
- Household income
- $70,139
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 39.4
Parkston is a city of 1,567 people in Hutchinson County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $157,100, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks more of a college town than 91% of South Dakota towns, easier by car than 87% of South Dakota towns, better for retirees than 83% of South Dakota towns.
How Parkston 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 Parkston is worth $157,100, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $70,139, which is more affordable than 70% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $717 a month. 73.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Parkston | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,100 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $717 | $785 |
| Median household income | $70,139 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 73.7% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Parkston
| People | Parkston | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.5% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 16.0 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.6% | 86.7% |
Weather in Parkston
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 10.0°F. About 25.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.3 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Parkston since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 10, 2015 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 17, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 29, 1968.
Severe weather in Hutchinson County since 1996
Hutchinson County has been included in 24 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 |
| 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 Hutchinson County
Hutchinson County had 2,756 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,418 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Parkston itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Parkston
5 public schools with 566 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parkston Elementary - 02 | PK-5 | 288 | 14.4 |
| Parkston High School - 01 | 9-12 | 123 | 10.3 |
| Parkston Middle School - 05 | 6-8 | 90 | 15.0 |
| Old Elm Spring Colony Elementary - 03 | PK-8 | 36 | 18.0 |
| Our Home | 5-12 | 29 | 14.5 |
Towns near Parkston
- Tripp, SD11.6 mi · 575 people · home $66,300
- Armour, SD18.7 mi · 698 people · home $105,500
- Alexandria, SD20.8 mi · 649 people · home $180,200
- Corsica, SD21.2 mi · 561 people · home $162,500
- Scotland, SD21.6 mi · 785 people · home $110,700
- Menno, SD23.2 mi · 614 people · home $111,500
- Mitchell, SD23.3 mi · 15,660 people · home $192,200
- Wagner, SD26.7 mi · 1,490 people · home $136,000
Parkston questions
Is Parkston, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Parkston scores better for retirees than 83% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 36%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.4).
How much does a house cost in Parkston?
The median owner-occupied home in Parkston is valued at $157,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,139, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $717 a month.
What is the weather like in Parkston?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 10.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 25.4 inches of precipitation a year and 36.3 inches of snow.
Does Parkston get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Parkston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 10, 2015. 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)