The Town FilesTimber Lake, South Dakota
City in Dewey County · population 509 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $81,400
- Household income
- $60,694
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 23.8
Timber Lake is a city of 509 people in Dewey County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $81,400, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for young professionals than 85% of South Dakota towns, better transit than 77% of South Dakota towns.
How Timber Lake 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 Timber Lake is worth $81,400, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $60,694, which is more affordable than 95% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $546 a month. 63.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Timber Lake | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $81,400 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $546 | $785 |
| Median household income | $60,694 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 63.5% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Timber Lake
| People | Timber Lake | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 23.8 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 6.8% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 42.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.9% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.8% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 30.4 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.5% | 86.7% |
Weather in Timber Lake
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 7.1°F. About 19.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.2 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 173 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Timber Lake since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on June 8, 2021 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 8, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 5, 2022.
Severe weather in Dewey County since 1996
Dewey County has been included in 16 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 |
| June 7, 2019 | Flood | DR-4440: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| February 1, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4298: Severe Winter Storm |
| July 28, 2014 | Flood | DR-4186: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dewey County
Dewey County had 2,447 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,085 a year. Unemployment was 5.7% in 2023; in Timber Lake itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Timber Lake
3 public schools with 389 students, about 10.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timber Lake Elementary - 02 | PK-5 | 198 | 10.4 |
| Timber Lake High School - 01 | 9-12 | 110 | 11.0 |
| Timber Lake Middle School - 03 | 6-8 | 81 | 10.1 |
Towns near Timber Lake
- North Eagle Butte, SD29.2 mi · 1,879 people · home $33,100
- McLaughlin, SD29.4 mi · 569 people · home $62,400
Timber Lake questions
Is Timber Lake, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Timber Lake scores better for retirees than 32% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 39%. 6.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 23.8).
How much does a house cost in Timber Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Timber Lake is valued at $81,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,694, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $546 a month.
What is the weather like in Timber Lake?
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 7.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.4 inches of precipitation a year and 41.2 inches of snow.
Does Timber Lake get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Timber Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on June 8, 2021. 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)