The Town FilesWhite River, South Dakota
City in Mellette County · population 533 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $75,000
- Household income
- $82,692
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 37.5
White River is a city of 533 people in Mellette County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $75,000, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for young professionals than 90% of South Dakota towns.
How White River 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 White River is worth $75,000, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 0.9 times the median household income of $82,692, which is more affordable than 98% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $1,125 a month. 51.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | White River | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $75,000 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $1,125 | $785 |
| Median household income | $82,692 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 0.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 51.1% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.5% | — |
Who lives in White River
| People | White River | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.3% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 35.7% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.0% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 17.6 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.0% | 86.7% |
Weather in White River
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 12.2°F. About 20.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.9 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of White River since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. The strongest, an F0, struck on May 9, 1999 about 2.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 9, 1999.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 12, 2009.
Severe weather in Mellette County since 1996
Mellette County has been included in 14 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 |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
| September 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4463: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 7, 2019 | Flood | DR-4440: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Mellette County
Mellette County had 328 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $36,865 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in White River itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in White River
3 public schools with 370 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| White River Elementary - 02 | PK-5 | 164 | 10.9 |
| White River High School - 01 | 9-12 | 118 | 9.8 |
| White River Middle School - 04 | 6-8 | 88 | 14.7 |
Towns near White River
- Mission, SD18.5 mi · 1,156 people · home $65,900
- Antelope, SD18.7 mi · 830 people · home —
- Parmelee, SD22.0 mi · 606 people · home —
- Rosebud, SD23.0 mi · 1,455 people · home $81,300
White River questions
Is White River, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, White River scores better for retirees than 35% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 27%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in White River?
The median owner-occupied home in White River is valued at $75,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,692, so homes cost about 0.9 times income. Median rent is $1,125 a month.
What is the weather like in White River?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 12.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.4 inches of precipitation a year and 44.9 inches of snow.
Does White River get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of White River since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on May 9, 1999. 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)