The Town FilesSpearfish, South Dakota
City in Lawrence County · population 12,193 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $346,200
- Household income
- $65,688
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 71 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 40.0
Spearfish is a city of 12,193 people in Lawrence County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $346,200, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks more vibrant than 90% of South Dakota towns, better for a vacation home than 88% of South Dakota towns, better for young professionals than 86% of South Dakota towns.
How Spearfish 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 Spearfish is worth $346,200, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 5.3 times the median household income of $65,688, which is more affordable than 2% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $963 a month. 49.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Spearfish | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $346,200 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $963 | $785 |
| Median household income | $65,688 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.3× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 49.6% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.6% | — |
Who lives in Spearfish
| People | Spearfish | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.7% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.8% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.2% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 16.3 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.2% | 86.7% |
Weather in Spearfish
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 15.7°F. About 21.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 70.5 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Spearfish since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 28, 1972 about 6.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 16, 2007.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 176 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 19, 2015.
Severe weather in Lawrence County since 1996
Lawrence County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
| October 7, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4467: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| November 8, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4155: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| June 28, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4125: Severe Storms, Tornado, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lawrence County
Lawrence County had 13,566 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,201 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Spearfish itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Spearfish
9 public schools with 2,402 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spearfish High School - 01 | 9-12 | 771 | 17.5 |
| Spearfish Middle School - 05 | 6-8 | 573 | 14.7 |
| Creekside Elementary - 07 | 3-5 | 519 | 14.0 |
| West Elementary - 03 | 1-2 | 348 | 10.9 |
| Mountain View Elementary - 08 | K-K | 166 | 11.9 |
| Spearfish Academy at Canyon Hills High School - 10 | 9-12 | 18 | 9.0 |
| Spearfish Academy at Canyon Hills Elementary - 09 | 4-8 | 7 | 3.5 |
| Black Hills Academy at Canyon Hills High School - 07 | 9-12 | — | — |
| Black Hills Academy at Canyon Hills - 08 | 4-8 | — | — |
Towns near Spearfish
- North Spearfish, SD4.5 mi · 2,366 people · home $356,200
- Deadwood, SD8.6 mi · 1,156 people · home $226,500
- Whitewood, SD9.0 mi · 879 people · home $243,300
- Lead, SD9.9 mi · 2,982 people · home $189,400
- Belle Fourche, SD12.1 mi · 5,617 people · home $222,500
- Boulder Canyon, SD12.3 mi · 561 people · home $597,800
- Sturgis, SD16.6 mi · 7,020 people · home $271,200
- Newell, SD25.0 mi · 584 people · home $141,300
Spearfish questions
Is Spearfish, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Spearfish scores better for retirees than 58% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 20%. 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.0).
How much does a house cost in Spearfish?
The median owner-occupied home in Spearfish is valued at $346,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,688, so homes cost about 5.3 times income. Median rent is $963 a month.
What is the weather like in Spearfish?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 15.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 21.4 inches of precipitation a year and 70.5 inches of snow.
Does Spearfish get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Spearfish since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 28, 1972. 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)