The Town FilesPlatte, South Dakota
City in Charles Mix County · population 1,296 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $179,200
- Household income
- $72,700
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 35.6
Platte is a city of 1,296 people in Charles Mix County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $179,200, close to the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for families than 99% of South Dakota towns, hipper than 97% of South Dakota towns, better for retirees than 92% of South Dakota towns.
How Platte 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 Platte is worth $179,200, close to the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $72,700, which is more affordable than 59% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $832 a month. 70.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Platte | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $179,200 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $832 | $785 |
| Median household income | $72,700 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 70.7% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Platte
| People | Platte | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.6 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.4% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.7% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 8.1 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.2% | 86.7% |
Weather in Platte
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 10.6°F. About 24.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.7 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 30 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 167 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Platte since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 4, 1971 about 0.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 23, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 6, 1998.
Severe weather in Charles Mix County since 1996
Charles Mix County has been included in 17 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 |
| 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 |
| June 7, 2019 | Flood | DR-4440: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Charles Mix County
Charles Mix County had 3,548 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,616 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Platte itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Public schools in Platte
4 public schools with 486 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platte - Geddes Elementary - 02 | K-5 | 223 | 13.1 |
| Platte - Geddes High School - 01 | 9-12 | 120 | 10.9 |
| Platte - Geddes Jr. High - 03 | 6-8 | 100 | 14.3 |
| Cedar Grove Colony Elementary - 14 | K-8 | 43 | 14.3 |
Towns near Platte
- Corsica, SD22.0 mi · 561 people · home $162,500
- Lake Andes, SD22.2 mi · 710 people · home $58,800
- Kimball, SD25.5 mi · 572 people · home $152,800
- Armour, SD25.5 mi · 698 people · home $105,500
- Burke, SD26.6 mi · 575 people · home $150,000
- Plankinton, SD29.0 mi · 781 people · home $114,800
Platte questions
Is Platte, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Platte scores better for retirees than 92% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 66%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.6).
How much does a house cost in Platte?
The median owner-occupied home in Platte is valued at $179,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,700, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $832 a month.
What is the weather like in Platte?
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 10.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.0 inches of precipitation a year and 45.7 inches of snow.
Does Platte get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Platte since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 4, 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)