The Town FilesSturgis, South Dakota
City in Meade County · population 7,020 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $271,200
- Household income
- $54,404
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 40.3
Sturgis is a city of 7,020 people in Meade County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $271,200, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks more vibrant than 89% of South Dakota towns, more walkable than 85% of South Dakota towns, hipper than 81% of South Dakota towns.
How Sturgis 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 Sturgis is worth $271,200, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $54,404, which is more affordable than 5% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $780 a month. 66.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sturgis | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $271,200 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $780 | $785 |
| Median household income | $54,404 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 66.9% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.7% | — |
Who lives in Sturgis
| People | Sturgis | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.4% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.2% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 11.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 2.0% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 18.3 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 86.7% |
Weather in Sturgis
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 15.1°F. About 21.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.6 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sturgis since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 5, 1975 about 10.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 13, 1993.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 168 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 7, 2009.
Severe weather in Meade County since 1996
Meade County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| 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 |
| September 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4463: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| February 1, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4298: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Meade County
Meade County had 8,600 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,255 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Sturgis itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Sturgis
4 public schools with 1,862 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sturgis Brown High School - 01 | 9-12 | 839 | 16.8 |
| Sturgis Elementary - 03 | K-4 | 538 | 12.2 |
| Sturgis Williams Middle School - 02 | 5-8 | 485 | 15.6 |
| Developmental Disabilities Program - 01 | PK-12 | — | — |
Towns near Sturgis
- Boulder Canyon, SD5.3 mi · 561 people · home $597,800
- Whitewood, SD7.7 mi · 879 people · home $243,300
- Deadwood, SD11.0 mi · 1,156 people · home $226,500
- Lead, SD13.8 mi · 2,982 people · home $189,400
- Piedmont, SD14.5 mi · 971 people · home $324,200
- Wonderland Homes, SD16.2 mi · 718 people · home $264,900
- Spearfish, SD16.6 mi · 12,193 people · home $346,200
- Summerset, SD17.0 mi · 2,972 people · home $368,300
Sturgis questions
Is Sturgis, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sturgis scores better for retirees than 17% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 24%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.3).
How much does a house cost in Sturgis?
The median owner-occupied home in Sturgis is valued at $271,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,404, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $780 a month.
What is the weather like in Sturgis?
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 15.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 21.3 inches of precipitation a year and 47.6 inches of snow.
Does Sturgis get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sturgis since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 5, 1975. 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)