The Town FilesValley Springs, South Dakota
City in Minnehaha County · population 885 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $192,600
- Household income
- $107,222
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 37.0
Valley Springs is a city of 885 people in Minnehaha County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $192,600, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks easier by car than 97% of South Dakota towns, better for families than 91% of South Dakota towns, quieter than 85% of South Dakota towns.
How Valley Springs 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 Valley Springs is worth $192,600, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $107,222, which is more affordable than 83% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $1,028 a month. 81.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Valley Springs | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $192,600 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $1,028 | $785 |
| Median household income | $107,222 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 81.0% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Valley Springs
| People | Valley Springs | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.0% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.6% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 20.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 21.0 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.3% | 86.7% |
Weather in Valley Springs
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 6.4°F. About 29.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.2 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valley Springs since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 7, 1993 about 4.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 62 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on August 28, 2021.
Severe weather in Minnehaha County since 1996
Minnehaha County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, biological.
| 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 Minnehaha County
Minnehaha County had 138,556 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,100 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Valley Springs itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Valley Springs
1 public school with 67 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Springs Elementary - 04 | K-4 | 67 | 11.2 |
Towns near Valley Springs
- Brandon, SD5.9 mi · 11,048 people · home $336,600
- Hills, MN6.5 mi · 686 people · home $197,200
- Larchwood, IA8.9 mi · 926 people · home $215,600
- Garretson, SD9.4 mi · 1,228 people · home $203,800
- Shindler, SD11.6 mi · 607 people · home $617,600
- Meadow View Addition, SD12.1 mi · 531 people · home $250,600
- Luverne, MN13.5 mi · 4,946 people · home $208,000
- Sioux Falls, SD13.6 mi · 192,517 people · home $292,400
Valley Springs questions
Is Valley Springs, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Valley Springs scores better for retirees than 18% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 85%. 9.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.0).
How much does a house cost in Valley Springs?
The median owner-occupied home in Valley Springs is valued at $192,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $107,222, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $1,028 a month.
What is the weather like in Valley Springs?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 6.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.6 inches of precipitation a year and 44.2 inches of snow.
Does Valley Springs get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valley Springs since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 7, 1993. 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)