The Town FilesPhilip, South Dakota
City in Haakon County · population 759 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $182,100
- Household income
- $56,635
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 52.4
Philip is a city of 759 people in Haakon County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $182,100, close to the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks quieter than 90% of South Dakota towns, better for retirees than 82% of South Dakota towns.
How Philip 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 Philip is worth $182,100, close to the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $56,635, which is more affordable than 24% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $642 a month. 70.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Philip | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $182,100 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $642 | $785 |
| Median household income | $56,635 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 70.8% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.6% | — |
Who lives in Philip
| People | Philip | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.4 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.7% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 15.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.9% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.6% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 5.1 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 64.4% | 86.7% |
Weather in Philip
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 10.2°F. About 16.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.2 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 173 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Philip since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 15, 1992 about 0.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 13, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 10, 1969.
Severe weather in Haakon County since 1996
Haakon County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| September 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4463: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| February 1, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4298: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Haakon County
Haakon County had 780 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,525 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Philip itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Philip
3 public schools with 305 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philip Elementary - 02 | K-5 | 129 | 12.9 |
| Philip High School - 01 | 9-12 | 100 | 12.5 |
| Philip Jr. High - 03 | 6-8 | 76 | 25.3 |
Towns near Philip
- Kadoka, SD16.8 mi · 543 people · home —
- Wall, SD29.0 mi · 699 people · home $164,800
Philip questions
Is Philip, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Philip scores better for retirees than 82% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 90%. 27.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.4).
How much does a house cost in Philip?
The median owner-occupied home in Philip is valued at $182,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,635, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $642 a month.
What is the weather like in Philip?
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 10.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.3 inches of precipitation a year and 38.2 inches of snow.
Does Philip get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Philip since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 15, 1992. 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)