The Town FilesWessington Springs, South Dakota
City in Jerauld County · population 771 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $111,300
- Household income
- $47,321
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 61.0
Wessington Springs is a city of 771 people in Jerauld County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $111,300, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks quieter than 96% of South Dakota towns, better for families than 89% of South Dakota towns, better for first-time buyers than 72% of South Dakota towns.
How Wessington 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 Wessington Springs is worth $111,300, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $47,321, which is more affordable than 63% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $560 a month. 76.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wessington Springs | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $111,300 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $560 | $785 |
| Median household income | $47,321 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 76.7% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.2% | — |
Who lives in Wessington Springs
| People | Wessington Springs | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 61.0 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 45.5% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.6% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.5% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 15.4% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 15.5 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.8% | 86.7% |
Weather in Wessington Springs
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 7.0°F. About 25.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.5 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wessington Springs since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on June 18, 2014 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 18, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 16, 2009.
Severe weather in Jerauld County since 1996
Jerauld County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 30, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4233: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 28, 2014 | Flood | DR-4186: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Jerauld County
Jerauld County had 1,559 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,603 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Wessington Springs itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Public schools in Wessington Springs
3 public schools with 272 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wessington Springs Elementary - 02 | PK-6 | 140 | 10.8 |
| Wessington Springs High School - 01 | 9-12 | 90 | 12.9 |
| Wessington Springs Jr. High - 04 | 7-8 | 42 | 14.0 |
Towns near Wessington Springs
- Woonsocket, SD15.0 mi · 631 people · home $80,800
- Plankinton, SD25.6 mi · 781 people · home $114,800
- Huron, SD26.5 mi · 14,263 people · home $159,000
- Kimball, SD30.0 mi · 572 people · home $152,800
Wessington Springs questions
Is Wessington Springs, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wessington Springs scores better for retirees than 58% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 96%. 45.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 61.0).
How much does a house cost in Wessington Springs?
The median owner-occupied home in Wessington Springs is valued at $111,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,321, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $560 a month.
What is the weather like in Wessington Springs?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 7.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 25.7 inches of precipitation a year and 44.5 inches of snow.
Does Wessington Springs get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wessington Springs since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on June 18, 2014. 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)