The Town FilesWebster, South Dakota
City in Day County · population 1,728 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $154,100
- Household income
- $55,179
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 40.5
Webster is a city of 1,728 people in Day County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $154,100, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks more of a college town than 98% of South Dakota towns, hipper than 94% of South Dakota towns, better for retirees than 91% of South Dakota towns.
How Webster 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 Webster is worth $154,100, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $55,179, which is more affordable than 47% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $653 a month. 66.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Webster | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $154,100 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $653 | $785 |
| Median household income | $55,179 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 66.8% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Webster
| People | Webster | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.7% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.1% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.7% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.8% | 86.7% |
Weather in Webster
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 2.4°F. About 26.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.8 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 167 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Webster since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 12, 2022 about 7.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 12, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 1, 1969.
Severe weather in Day County since 1996
Day County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4938: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 6, 2023 | Flood | DR-4718: Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Day County
Day County had 1,955 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,886 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Webster itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Public schools in Webster
3 public schools with 548 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webster Area Elementary - 03 | PK-5 | 270 | 14.2 |
| Webster Area High School - 01 | 9-12 | 160 | 13.3 |
| Webster Area Middle School - 02 | 6-8 | 118 | 14.8 |
Towns near Webster
- Agency Village, SD27.6 mi · 776 people · home $257,100
- Groton, SD29.2 mi · 1,380 people · home $190,600
Webster questions
Is Webster, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Webster scores better for retirees than 91% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 35%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.5).
How much does a house cost in Webster?
The median owner-occupied home in Webster is valued at $154,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,179, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $653 a month.
What is the weather like in Webster?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 2.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.1 inches of precipitation a year and 42.8 inches of snow.
Does Webster get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Webster since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 12, 2022. 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)