The Town FilesWinner, South Dakota
City in Tripp County · population 2,921 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $106,100
- Household income
- $47,381
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 43.6
Winner is a city of 2,921 people in Tripp County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $106,100, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better transit than 94% of South Dakota towns, more walkable than 80% of South Dakota towns, more vibrant than 77% of South Dakota towns.
How Winner 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 Winner is worth $106,100, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $47,381, which is more affordable than 70% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $770 a month. 62.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Winner | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $106,100 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $770 | $785 |
| Median household income | $47,381 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 62.2% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.4% | — |
Who lives in Winner
| People | Winner | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.8% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.4% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.2% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 1.6% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 11.7 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 86.7% |
Weather in Winner
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 12.5°F. About 23.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.1 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 40 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Winner since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 22, 2010 about 0.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 4, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 18, 1992.
Severe weather in Tripp County since 1996
Tripp County has been included in 20 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 |
| 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 |
| October 7, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4467: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Tripp County
Tripp County had 2,331 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,583 a year. Unemployment was 1.6% in 2023; in Winner itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Winner
3 public schools with 825 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winner Elementary - 04 | PK-5 | 455 | 15.2 |
| Winner High School - 01 | 9-12 | 210 | 16.2 |
| Winner Middle School - 02 | 6-8 | 160 | 16.0 |
Towns near Winner
- Gregory, SD24.1 mi · 1,221 people · home $115,300
Winner questions
Is Winner, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Winner scores better for retirees than 47% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 53%. 21.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.6).
How much does a house cost in Winner?
The median owner-occupied home in Winner is valued at $106,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,381, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $770 a month.
What is the weather like in Winner?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 12.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 23.2 inches of precipitation a year and 49.1 inches of snow.
Does Winner get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Winner since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 22, 2010. 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)