The Town FilesVermillion, South Dakota
City in Clay County · population 11,695 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $219,000
- Household income
- $50,456
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 23.1
Vermillion is a city of 11,695 people in Clay County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $219,000, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for young professionals than 100% of South Dakota towns, more vibrant than 99% of South Dakota towns, hipper than 99% of South Dakota towns.
How Vermillion 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 Vermillion is worth $219,000, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $50,456, which is more affordable than 7% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $764 a month. 42.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Vermillion | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $219,000 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $764 | $785 |
| Median household income | $50,456 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 42.0% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Vermillion
| People | Vermillion | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 23.1 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.6% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 14.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.6% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.4% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 16.9 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in Vermillion
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 10.2°F. About 28.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.2 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vermillion since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 28, 1986 about 7.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 24, 2003.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 104 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on September 22, 2010.
Severe weather in Clay County since 1996
Clay County has been included in 19 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 |
| June 7, 2019 | Flood | DR-4440: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Clay County
Clay County had 6,066 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,924 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Vermillion itself the ACS puts it at 8.5%.
Public schools in Vermillion
4 public schools with 1,432 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermillion High School - 01 | 9-12 | 440 | 16.9 |
| Jolley Elementary - 04 | 2-5 | 383 | 14.2 |
| Vermillion Middle School - 02 | 6-8 | 332 | 15.1 |
| Austin Elementary - 03 | PK-1 | 277 | 13.9 |
Towns near Vermillion
- Yankton, SD24.8 mi · 15,411 people · home $222,700
- Hawarden, IA27.1 mi · 2,700 people · home $136,300
- North Sioux City, SD27.7 mi · 3,042 people · home $269,800
Vermillion questions
Is Vermillion, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Vermillion scores better for retirees than 12% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 0%. 9.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 23.1).
How much does a house cost in Vermillion?
The median owner-occupied home in Vermillion is valued at $219,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,456, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $764 a month.
What is the weather like in Vermillion?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 10.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.0 inches of precipitation a year and 36.2 inches of snow.
Does Vermillion get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vermillion since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 28, 1986. 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)