The Town FilesTripp, South Dakota
City in Hutchinson County · population 575 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $66,300
- Household income
- $59,167
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 48.8
Tripp is a city of 575 people in Hutchinson County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $66,300, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of South Dakota towns, more upscale than 86% of South Dakota towns, quieter than 85% of South Dakota towns.
- #1 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in South Dakota
- #1 in The 21 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in South Dakota
- #6 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in South Dakota
- #23 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in South Dakota
- #39 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Cheapest Rent
- #39 in 50 Places in America With the Cheapest Rent
How Tripp 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 Tripp is worth $66,300, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 1.1 times the median household income of $59,167, which is more affordable than 96% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $334 a month. 67.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tripp | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $66,300 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $334 | $785 |
| Median household income | $59,167 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 67.5% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1950 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Tripp
| People | Tripp | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.8 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.6% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.0% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.3% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.5% | 86.7% |
Weather in Tripp
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 8.7°F. About 26.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.7 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tripp since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 5, 2007 about 7.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 31, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 24, 2026.
Severe weather in Hutchinson County since 1996
Hutchinson County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4807: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 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 |
| November 18, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4469: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Hutchinson County
Hutchinson County had 2,756 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,418 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Tripp itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Tripp
3 public schools with 140 students, about 10.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tripp Elementary - 03 | PK-6 | 85 | 10.6 |
| Tripp-Delmont High School - 01 | 9-12 | 35 | 7.0 |
| Tripp-Delmont Jr. High - 02 | 7-8 | 20 | 20.0 |
Towns near Tripp
- Parkston, SD11.6 mi · 1,567 people · home $157,100
- Scotland, SD13.5 mi · 785 people · home $110,700
- Avon, SD15.9 mi · 586 people · home $107,600
- Tyndall, SD17.1 mi · 1,057 people · home $101,500
- Wagner, SD19.4 mi · 1,490 people · home $136,000
- Menno, SD19.6 mi · 614 people · home $111,500
- Armour, SD20.1 mi · 698 people · home $105,500
- Springfield, SD25.3 mi · 1,914 people · home $118,500
Tripp questions
Is Tripp, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tripp scores better for retirees than 100% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 85%. 25.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.8).
How much does a house cost in Tripp?
The median owner-occupied home in Tripp is valued at $66,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,167, so homes cost about 1.1 times income. Median rent is $334 a month.
What is the weather like in Tripp?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 8.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.2 inches of precipitation a year and 36.7 inches of snow.
Does Tripp get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tripp since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 5, 2007. 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)