6 Senior-Friendly Towns In South Dakota

When the time comes to finally leave the rat race — and move at a pace that is slow and smooth — there are good reasons you will cast your vote for South Dakota. People are mostly relaxed and nice, like genuinely nice and trustworthy, something that is becoming increasingly rare, even in the Midwest. Also, South Dakota does not maintain a state income tax, making life cheaper and a lot less stressful. And while the landscape is not exactly like California’s or the Swiss Alps’, the rolling farmland in the east, the big open prairies in the center, and the scenic badlands in the west, all provide a broad range of natural delights and pleasure spots. If you are thinking about retiring in Mount Rushmore State, the following are six senior-friendly towns worth checking out.

Madison

It may not be a huge thing, but Madison could be home to South Dakota’s best Dairy Queen. The town also hosts Dakota State University, where seniors aged 65 plus qualify for a discount on tuition fees. While one will find most amenities in town, Sioux Falls is conveniently close, less than an hour’s drive down the road. There is much to love about Madison. For example, The beautiful 2,800-acre lake that bears the town’s name is an exceptional venue for fishing, boating, and kayaking. Plus, Madison is easy on the wallet and you can see you save lots of cash when buying property.

The median listing home price in the town was just $320,900 in April 2024. The Madison Golf and Country Club, just west of town, is a shot-maker’s dream and a favorite among South Dakota golfers. There is Lake Herman as well, where residents enjoy camping, boating, and fishing. An empty nester will find peers in the same age bracket here, even if the town’s median age is just 37. This is because residents aged 60 and above comprise 28% of the population. Worried about healthcare access? Madison Regional Health System is right in town.

Hot Springs

For those who know it, no words can describe the experience of retiring close to the water. The good news is that Hot Springs provides access to the Cold Brook Reservoir, the aptly named Hidden Lake, the famous Evans Plunge Mineral Springs (with its spring-fed pool), and the small but pretty Hot Springs Waterfall. Also, the more than 4,000-acre Angostura Reservoir, a top-notch venue for fishing and swimming, is just 20 minutes down the road.

Does one have to break the bank to enjoy these pleasure spots? No. The town’s median listing home price was only $390,000 in April 2024. The median age in Hot Springs is 56, proving the town is exceedingly popular with retirees. While one can access some of the best hospitals in the state at Rapid City, about an hour’s drive away, Hot Springs hosts Fall River Health Services, a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital offering a broad range of medical services.

Dakota Dunes

An upscale suburb of Sioux City, Dakota Dunes provides fantastic access to big-city amenities. Iowa’s fourth-largest city is only 7 miles away; hence, a retiree here should not have to shop for groceries to last a month. A water lover’s paradise, this town is traversed and bounded by glimmering water bodies such as the Missouri River (arguably the longest in North America), the Big Sioux River, McCook Lake, and the nearby Mud Lake. Although Sioux City is a heartbeat away — and hosts numerous medical facilities — Dunes Surgical Hospital is right in town.

The town’s median age is 41, and residents aged 60 and above comprise 25% of the population. Other outdoor venues a retiree will love spending time at include the scenic Stone State Park, the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center, and the breathtaking Dakota Dunes Country Club, where a retiree can enjoy a round of golf while catching up with neighbors and peers. The median listing home price in Dakota Dunes was $559,000 in April 2024.

Hill City

As an empty nester, you want a town that is cute, intimate, a bit small, and a bit laid back — but you also do not want to be in the middle of nowhere. The nice thing with Hill City is the fact it's a tiny town of just about 1,000 residents yet only 30 minutes away from Rapid City, South Dakota’s second-most populous city. A retiree here will be close to all the amenities, desirable conveniences, and cultural attractions “the "City of Presidents," as Rapid City is nicknamed — provides. For example, in just a few minutes, a retiree will be in the waiting room of the highly-ranked Same Day Surgery Center.

Also located in the Black Hills area, Hill City provides access to fantastic outdoor venues, including Major Lake, Spring Creek, and Newton Fork. At the Prairie Berry Winery, one can enjoy the last 40 minutes of daylight — a glass of delicious wine in hand — thinking about how life has turned out. For something more thrilling, there is the chance to saddle a horse and inhale tasty views of the landscape at the Stables at Palmer Gulch. Hill City’s median age is 40, the prime of life. Similarly, fellow empty nesters aged 60 and above comprise 21% of the population. On what it costs, the median listing home price in Hill City, South Dakota, was $599,900 in April 2024.

Millbank

Cash is increasingly becoming hard to come by, and a town with a home median listing price of just $255,000 should pique the interest of any retiree. Secreted in northeastern South Dakota on the South Fork Whetstone River, this charming place is only 10 miles from the Minnesota border. Milbank styles itself as the birthplace of American Legion Baseball, and a beautiful granite monument on the corner of "Unity Square” celebrates this heritage. A retiree will not want to always stay indoors. Milbank provides access to numerous outdoor venues, including Lake Farley Park, where one will love a beautiful lake view while walking, biking, or running.

There is the chance to tee off an afternoon at the well-maintained Whetstone Creek Golf Course. Moreover, Big Stone Lake — and Hartford Beach State Park — are just minutes from town. If under the weather, Milbank Area Health Care Campus is right in town; there will be no need to make an out-of-town trip. The hospital boasts an impressive 80% recommendation rate. On the social scene, Milbank’s median age is 42, representing a sweet spot between the creative energy of the young and the humble moderation of the aged. Still, on the social scene, residents aged 60 and above comprise an enticing 33% of the population.

Brookings

Brookings is in the Big Sioux River valley — about 55 miles north of Sioux Falls. It hosts South Dakota State University, which was established in 1881 and is the state’s only land-grant school. A retiree here will occasionally enjoy passing time at the South Dakota Art Museum, which displays a nice selection of pioneer-life paintings — or reliving the distant past at the South Dakota State Agricultural Heritage Museum, a nice place to learn about America’s farming history. Edgebrook Golf Course features a nice variety of hole layouts, while the peaceful Dakota Nature Park is known for varied wildlife and some of the most magical sunsets in the area.

Other outdoor venues nearby include Oakwood Lakes State Park, Lake Campbell, and Lake Poinsett Recreation Area. Besides its rich menu of outdoor offerings, Brookings hosts Brookings Health System, a 2024 recipient of the Outstanding Patient Experience Award. Also, the median home listing price in Brookings was $361,900 in April 2024, implying the town also scores big on affordability. Although the town’s median age is 27, residents aged 60 and above comprise 18% of the population.

The Takeaway

Dotted with numerous slow-paced towns, South Dakota can make for a fantastic retirement destination. The people are mostly genuine, trustworthy, and easy-going and known to always lend a hand whenever a need arises. Also, one does not have to worry about income tax — and that applies across the board — even to non-retirees. Still, one needs to evaluate a prospective location carefully and consider all relevant factors, including access to hospitals. Specific recommendations include Brookings, Hot Springs, and Madison