The Town FilesSelby, South Dakota
City in Walworth County · population 610 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $105,700
- Household income
- $49,205
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 42.7
Selby is a city of 610 people in Walworth County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $105,700, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 94% of South Dakota towns, better for families than 90% of South Dakota towns, better transit than 89% of South Dakota towns.
How Selby 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 Selby is worth $105,700, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $49,205, which is more affordable than 74% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $709 a month. 80.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Selby | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $105,700 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $709 | $785 |
| Median household income | $49,205 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 80.6% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Selby
| People | Selby | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.8% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.6% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.3% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 30.7 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.7% | 86.7% |
Weather in Selby
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 4.0°F. About 19.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.4 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 179 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Selby since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 20, 1968 about 0.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 25, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 63 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 6, 2019.
Severe weather in Walworth County since 1996
Walworth County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| June 7, 2019 | Flood | DR-4440: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| March 10, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1887: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Walworth County
Walworth County had 2,033 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,774 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Selby itself the ACS puts it at 6.4%.
Public schools in Selby
3 public schools with 183 students, about 10.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selby Elementary - 02 | PK-5 | 85 | 10.6 |
| Selby High School - 01 | 9-12 | 52 | 8.7 |
| Selby Middle School - 03 | 6-8 | 46 | 15.3 |
Towns near Selby
- Mobridge, SD19.6 mi · 3,261 people · home $136,800
- Eureka, SD27.1 mi · 813 people · home $78,200
Selby questions
Is Selby, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Selby scores better for retirees than 72% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 81%. 29.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.7).
How much does a house cost in Selby?
The median owner-occupied home in Selby is valued at $105,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,205, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $709 a month.
What is the weather like in Selby?
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 4.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.2 inches of precipitation a year and 33.4 inches of snow.
Does Selby get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Selby since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 20, 1968. 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)