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South Dakota real estate markets

Compare 18 South Dakota counties by rent, home prices and property tax, using public government data. Among counties of 50,000 people or more, the median rent-to-price is 0.43% in South Dakota and 0.52% nationwide.

Where the numbers stand out

Highest rent-to-price
1.92%
Oglala Lakota County
Fastest price growth, 5-yr average
+11.1% a year
Meade County
Lowest property tax
0.38%
Oglala Lakota County
Lowest median home value
$52,900
Oglala Lakota County
Fastest population growth
+4.4% a year
Lincoln County
Lowest unemployment
1.7%
Hughes County

18 counties · Swipe the table to see every column

US counties ranked by the column you choose. Column headers sort the table.
Market
Oglala Lakota County, SDSouth Dakota rents · Run a deal1.92%——$52,900$1,0140.38%13,491
Roberts County, SDSouth Dakota rents · Run a deal0.66%-3.6%+11.0%$154,500$1,0140.97%10,221
Beadle County, SDHuron rents · Run a deal0.62%+4.3%+8.1%$175,100$1,0901.09%19,309
Davison County, SDSouth Dakota rents · Run a deal0.53%+2.8%+7.9%$205,800$1,0871.23%19,952
Codington County, SDSouth Dakota rents · Run a deal0.52%+3.5%+8.0%$237,700$1,2330.97%28,767
Butte County, SDSouth Dakota rents · Run a deal0.52%-4.3%+9.5%$244,600$1,2780.93%10,676
Hughes County, SDSouth Dakota rents · Run a deal0.49%+5.6%+7.9%$242,000$1,1941.10%17,664
Pennington County, SDRapid City rents · Run a deal0.47%+2.5%+9.7%$302,200$1,4301.08%113,512
Lake County, SDSouth Dakota rents · Run a deal0.47%+5.4%+9.8%$247,600$1,1541.03%10,972
Brown County, SDAberdeen rents · Run a deal0.46%+1.8%+6.2%$221,100$1,0141.18%37,877
Yankton County, SDSouth Dakota rents · Run a deal0.45%+1.9%+7.9%$225,900$1,0161.06%23,414
Meade County, SDSouth Dakota rents · Run a deal0.44%+9.6%+11.1%$310,900$1,3571.01%30,546
Clay County, SDSouth Dakota rents · Run a deal0.44%+4.6%+7.9%$232,300$1,0221.26%15,219
Minnehaha County, SDSioux Falls rents · Run a deal0.43%+2.1%+7.8%$287,600$1,2281.14%203,289
Brookings County, SDBrookings rents · Run a deal0.40%+1.1%+7.8%$264,600$1,0661.13%35,353
Union County, SDSouth Dakota rents · Run a deal0.40%+10.0%+8.6%$301,100$1,1941.10%17,081
Lincoln County, SDSouth Dakota rents · Run a deal0.35%+2.4%+7.6%$348,300$1,2281.15%70,638
Lawrence County, SDSpearfish rents · Run a deal0.35%+4.3%+11.0%$346,500$1,2070.79%27,233

Home prices

Home prices in South Dakota rose 41% over the 5 years to Q2 2026.

1 year
+2%
5 years
+41%
10 years
+90%

From the FHFA House Price Index for South Dakota (state level), updated Mar 31, 2026. It tracks repeat sales and refinance appraisals of the same homes, so it shows the area's trend, not what any one home is worth. See what local prices suggest your rental is worth.

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How to read this

Use this to shortlist, not to decide. These are county-wide figures, and a single county can hold very different neighborhoods. Check a real deal with the rental cash flow calculator.

Rent-to-price is the 2-bedroom rent as a percent of the median home value. It's a rough comparison between counties. The two figures describe different homes, and the home value lags current prices, so it can look better than today's market in places where prices rose quickly.

2-bed rent is HUD's Fair Market Rent (fiscal year from Oct 1, 2026): the 40th percentile for recent movers, including utilities. HUD often uses one figure across a whole metro area, so neighboring counties can match.

Home value and population are Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates through 2024. Home values are what owners report. Counties under 10,000 people aren't listed.

Prices are the FHFA House Price Index through 2025: the latest year's change, and the average yearly change over five years. FHFA calls its county index developmental, and it doesn't cover every county.

Property tax is median taxes paid divided by median home value, from the Census. It reflects what current owners pay. An investor buying today can pay more where assessments are capped for homeowners, as in Florida and California.

People and jobs: income, vacant homes (seasonal homes count as vacant, which can look high in vacation areas) and renters are Census 5-year estimates. Population growth compares two Census releases five years apart. Rent ÷ income is a year of the 2-bedroom rent as a percent of median household income. Unemployment is the Bureau of Labor Statistics yearly average for 2025.

See all data sources

Frequently asked questions

Which South Dakota county has the highest rent-to-price ratio?
Oglala Lakota County, at 1.92%: a 2-bedroom rent of $1,014 against a median home value of $52,900. It's a rough comparison, and a high ratio can come with slower growth or weaker demand, so check the other columns too.
Where have South Dakota home prices grown fastest?
Meade County, at an average of +11.1% a year over five years, on the FHFA House Price Index. Past growth doesn't predict future growth.
Which South Dakota county has the lowest property tax?
Oglala Lakota County, at about 0.38% of home value, based on what current owners pay. An investor buying today can pay more where assessments are capped for homeowners.
Where is the South Dakota population growing fastest?
Lincoln County, at +4.4% a year, comparing two Census releases five years apart. These are estimates, and they're less exact for small places.
How does South Dakota compare with the rest of the US?
Among counties of 50,000 people or more, the median rent-to-price is 0.43% in South Dakota and 0.52% nationwide. The ratio is the 2-bedroom rent as a percent of the median home value.
Are home prices going up in South Dakota?
Home prices in South Dakota rose 41% over the 5 years to Q2 2026. In the latest year (to Q2 2026) they rose 2%. These figures come from the FHFA House Price Index for South Dakota (state level), which tracks repeat sales and refinance appraisals of the same homes. It shows the trend for the area, not what any one home is worth.