The Town FilesVolga, South Dakota
City in Brookings County · population 2,113 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $240,000
- Household income
- $78,828
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 28.0
Volga is a city of 2,113 people in Brookings County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $240,000, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of South Dakota towns, better for retirees than 96% of South Dakota towns, more upscale than 91% of South Dakota towns.
How Volga 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 Volga is worth $240,000, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $78,828, which is more affordable than 38% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $1,130 a month. 53.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Volga | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $240,000 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $1,130 | $785 |
| Median household income | $78,828 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 53.4% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Volga
| People | Volga | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.0 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.8% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 29.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.1% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.1% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 15.2 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 86.7% |
Weather in Volga
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 3.5°F. About 25.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.8 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Volga since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 16, 1992 about 10.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 23, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 18, 2012.
Severe weather in Brookings County since 1996
Brookings County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 27, 2023 | Winter Storm | DR-4689: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
| 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 Brookings County
Brookings County had 19,246 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,994 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Volga itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Volga
3 public schools with 715 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Valley Elementary - 02 | K-5 | 350 | 14.0 |
| Sioux Valley High School - 01 | 9-12 | 206 | 15.8 |
| Sioux Valley Middle School - 04 | 6-8 | 159 | 14.5 |
Towns near Volga
- Brookings, SD6.8 mi · 23,377 people · home $265,500
- Arlington, SD10.8 mi · 915 people · home $144,300
- Aurora, SD12.1 mi · 1,047 people · home $234,600
- White, SD15.8 mi · 537 people · home $128,800
- Estelline, SD17.6 mi · 749 people · home $142,200
- Lake Poinsett, SD19.6 mi · 501 people · home $493,200
- Lake Preston, SD22.6 mi · 589 people · home $130,000
- Elkton, SD22.7 mi · 755 people · home $185,100
Volga questions
Is Volga, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Volga scores better for retirees than 96% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 79%. 10.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.0).
How much does a house cost in Volga?
The median owner-occupied home in Volga is valued at $240,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,828, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,130 a month.
What is the weather like in Volga?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 3.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 25.2 inches of precipitation a year and 35.8 inches of snow.
Does Volga get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Volga since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 16, 1992. 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)