The Town FilesScotland, South Dakota
City in Bon Homme County · population 785 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $110,700
- Household income
- $63,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 40.3
Scotland is a city of 785 people in Bon Homme County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $110,700, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of South Dakota towns, better for retirees than 98% of South Dakota towns, quieter than 94% of South Dakota towns.
- #2 in The 21 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in South Dakota
- #4 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in South Dakota
- #10 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in South Dakota
- #24 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America
- #24 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Places to Retire in America
- #25 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in South Dakota
How Scotland 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 Scotland is worth $110,700, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $63,250, which is more affordable than 83% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $593 a month. 77.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Scotland | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $110,700 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $593 | $785 |
| Median household income | $63,250 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 77.7% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Scotland
| People | Scotland | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.1% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.2% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.0% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 10.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 17.7 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.1% | 86.7% |
Weather in Scotland
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 9.9°F. About 25.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.3 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Scotland since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 26, 1965 about 1.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 31, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 61 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 20, 1985.
Severe weather in Bon Homme County since 1996
Bon Homme County has been included in 16 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 |
| June 7, 2019 | Flood | DR-4440: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Bon Homme County
Bon Homme County had 1,713 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,372 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Scotland itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Scotland
5 public schools with 348 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland Elementary - 02 | PK-4 | 113 | 14.1 |
| Scotland Middle School - 05 | 5-8 | 83 | 13.8 |
| Scotland High School - 01 | 9-12 | 77 | 8.6 |
| Maxwell Colony Elementary - 04 | K-8 | 43 | 14.3 |
| Dawson Colony School - 20 | K-8 | 32 | 10.7 |
Towns near Scotland
- Menno, SD9.5 mi · 614 people · home $111,500
- Tyndall, SD13.1 mi · 1,057 people · home $101,500
- Tripp, SD13.5 mi · 575 people · home $66,300
- Avon, SD19.8 mi · 586 people · home $107,600
- Freeman, SD20.0 mi · 1,329 people · home $164,200
- Parkston, SD21.6 mi · 1,567 people · home $157,100
- Springfield, SD21.7 mi · 1,914 people · home $118,500
- Yankton, SD24.3 mi · 15,411 people · home $222,700
Scotland questions
Is Scotland, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Scotland scores better for retirees than 98% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 94%. 26.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.3).
How much does a house cost in Scotland?
The median owner-occupied home in Scotland is valued at $110,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,250, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $593 a month.
What is the weather like in Scotland?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 9.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 25.0 inches of precipitation a year and 38.3 inches of snow.
Does Scotland get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Scotland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 26, 1965. 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)