The Town FilesWagner, South Dakota
City in Charles Mix County · population 1,490 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $136,000
- Household income
- $47,462
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 34.3
Wagner is a city of 1,490 people in Charles Mix County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $136,000, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for young professionals than 88% of South Dakota towns, hipper than 79% of South Dakota towns, better transit than 78% of South Dakota towns.
How Wagner 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 Wagner is worth $136,000, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $47,462, which is more affordable than 45% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $684 a month. 55.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wagner | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $136,000 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $684 | $785 |
| Median household income | $47,462 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 55.5% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Wagner
| People | Wagner | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.3 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.6% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.7% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 0.9% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 12.0 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 72.7% | 86.7% |
Weather in Wagner
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 12.8°F. About 26.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.1 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wagner since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 24, 1973 about 4.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 3 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 10, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 72 times; the largest was 6.88 inches on August 21, 2007.
Severe weather in Charles Mix County since 1996
Charles Mix County has been included in 17 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 |
| 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 |
| June 7, 2019 | Flood | DR-4440: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Charles Mix County
Charles Mix County had 3,548 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,616 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Wagner itself the ACS puts it at 8%.
Public schools in Wagner
4 public schools with 900 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wagner Elementary - 02 | K-4 | 323 | 10.4 |
| Wagner Middle School - 03 | 5-8 | 274 | 13.7 |
| Wagner High School - 01 | 9-12 | 189 | 11.8 |
| Early Learning Center - 04 | PK-PK | 114 | 14.3 |
Towns near Wagner
- Marty, SD8.9 mi · 677 people · home —
- Avon, SD12.7 mi · 586 people · home $107,600
- Lake Andes, SD13.6 mi · 710 people · home $58,800
- Armour, SD17.0 mi · 698 people · home $105,500
- Tripp, SD19.4 mi · 575 people · home $66,300
- Tyndall, SD22.4 mi · 1,057 people · home $101,500
- Corsica, SD24.6 mi · 561 people · home $162,500
- Springfield, SD24.9 mi · 1,914 people · home $118,500
Wagner questions
Is Wagner, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wagner scores better for retirees than 4% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 33%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.3).
How much does a house cost in Wagner?
The median owner-occupied home in Wagner is valued at $136,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,462, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $684 a month.
What is the weather like in Wagner?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 12.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.3 inches of precipitation a year and 33.1 inches of snow.
Does Wagner get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wagner since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 24, 1973. 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)