The Town FilesSisseton, South Dakota
City in Roberts County · population 2,479 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $109,200
- Household income
- $48,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 34.2
Sisseton is a city of 2,479 people in Roberts County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $109,200, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks more walkable than 92% of South Dakota towns, more vibrant than 91% of South Dakota towns, hipper than 90% of South Dakota towns.
How Sisseton 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 Sisseton is worth $109,200, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $48,875, which is more affordable than 70% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $596 a month. 50.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sisseton | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $109,200 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $596 | $785 |
| Median household income | $48,875 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 50.9% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Sisseton
| People | Sisseton | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.2 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.0% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 30.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.8% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.7% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 11.7 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.0% | 86.7% |
Weather in Sisseton
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 4.5°F. About 25.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.0 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 166 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sisseton since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 30, 1967 about 1.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 24, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 3, 2003.
Severe weather in Roberts County since 1996
Roberts County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 6, 2023 | Flood | DR-4718: Flooding |
| February 27, 2023 | Winter Storm | DR-4689: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Roberts County
Roberts County had 3,559 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,278 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Sisseton itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Sisseton
3 public schools with 970 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westside Elementary - 03 | PK-4 | 375 | 11.4 |
| Sisseton High School - 01 | 9-12 | 299 | 15.7 |
| Sisseton Middle School - 02 | 5-8 | 296 | 12.3 |
Towns near Sisseton
- Agency Village, SD5.8 mi · 776 people · home $257,100
- Browns Valley, MN11.3 mi · 558 people · home $73,800
- Wheaton, MN28.2 mi · 1,460 people · home $87,500
- Lidgerwood, ND28.8 mi · 600 people · home $80,200
- Hankinson, ND29.4 mi · 921 people · home $131,000
Sisseton questions
Is Sisseton, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sisseton scores better for retirees than 62% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 10%. 20.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.2).
How much does a house cost in Sisseton?
The median owner-occupied home in Sisseton is valued at $109,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,875, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $596 a month.
What is the weather like in Sisseton?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 4.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 25.4 inches of precipitation a year and 48.0 inches of snow.
Does Sisseton get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sisseton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 30, 1967. 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)