9 Best Places to Live in South Dakota in 2024

Affectionately named "The Swinged Cat State" by its first governor, Arthur C. Mellette, South Dakota is a haven for beautiful parks, open lands, and an infinite blue sky. Once a diamond in the rough born from a gold rush in the Black Hills, something today has managed to capture the hearts of tourists and future South Dakotans alike: it is a wondrous destination to settle down. Jam-packed with quiet communities born from the Missouri River, to laughs, uproar, and entertainment from the large cities, South Dakota hosts a variety of locations that will suit every and any type of soul. For that reason, learn more about nine of the best places to live in South Dakota in 2024.

Pierre

Boasting a median home value $65,200 lower than the national average of $281,900, and a cost of living score of 85.1 (100 being the average; the lower, the better), Pierre, the capital of South Dakota, has become a staple city known for quiet living and low prices. In particular, it is also a must-see for the armchair historian and outdoorsman.

For history, the Trail of Governors celebrates some of South Dakota's greatest statesmen in pure bronze form. These great works of art are scattered throughout Pierre, and attract the gaze of many as they carry on with everyday life. For nature lovers, Pierre is home to LaFramboise Island Nature Area state park. Covered in meadows and rolling hills, LaFramboise provides Pierre with a much-needed scenic and natural getaway.

Crafting Pierre into a city with a little bit of everything, South Dakota's capital is on the rise and now makes for a great place to call home.

Sioux Falls

Holding the title of the most populous city in South Dakota, and with a cost of living 9.3% lower than the national average, the 200,000 residents of Sioux Falls can attest that the city doesn't lack any recreation, artistry, or scenery. It may just be the state's center of artistic infrastructure and creativity.

Never skipping a beat, what makes Sioux Falls a great place is the sheer amount of what it has to offer. One can take the artist's journey and view the wonderful Arc of Dreams, and afterward, head to the heart of the city to take in the sights of the Sculpture Walk, which is one of the largest exhibitions of sculptures in the country. But the aesthetic appeal to Sioux Falls does not only extend to what is created by man, as it houses a collection of rushing waterfalls and reflective plateaus, aptly named Falls Park, that attract thousands each year.

Brandon

While the competition is stiff, Brandon trumps every other location in the state for one thing: safety. With a staggering 6.8 out of 100 on the violent crime scale, Brandon is one of the safest places to live in the entire country. Managing to also rank the safest location in the state for three consecutive years (2020, 2021, 2022), the small town of 10,000 still offers much more than what it has been recognized as thus far. While demographics show a steady but slow gain in residents, Brandon may straddle the line between town and city in the near future.  

As for the local hotspots, it is home to the nationally recognized Big Sioux Recreation Area. Open year-round, thickets of tall trees, bushes, and hiking trails await the adventurous in the spring and summertime. In the winter, however, skiing and snowmobiling dominate the icy land as Big Sioux's hills and mounds become snowy slopes. For those with a more refined taste, Brandon is also known for its local Wilde Prairie Winery, which grows its rhubarb and grapes for its sweet-tasting cocktails and wine.

With these attractions and statistics on crime, and close proximity to Sioux Falls, Brandon is one of the best places to live in the state. 

Brookings

With a cost of living 15.7% lower than the national average, Brookings has attracted many as a place that promises a vibrant nightlife, a lively atmosphere, and cheaper living. Being home to South Dakota State University, the youth have taken up the challenge of turning the city into a place with multiple points of interest.

Perhaps the best-known wonder is the McCrory Gardens and South Dakota State Arboretum. These botanical gardens, which are found on university grounds, provide locals with the largest spectacle of flora in the city while also acting as a hub of research. Becoming a staple for all looking to visit or settle in Brookings, the site also has rotating events and celebrations that change with the month. For a more laid-back and relaxing experience, however, the Hillcrest Aquatic Center offers a cool 50-meter pool complete with diving boards, water slides, and concessions.

Brookings as a city and cultural center is catching on, and the next wave or "place to be" may just be in this thriving city.

Hot Springs

A warm community with aging residents may sound offputting, but nothing can be further from the truth. Ranking 9.4 on the violent crime scale (the national average is 22.7), Hot Springs welcomes all to enjoy what gives it its name on top of being a peaceful place to stay. 

Taking its title from the mythical healing springs in the valley, Hot Springs had managed to spawn a variety of attractions that sold the idea of its waters being a panacea. Though those days are long gone, Evans Plunge keeps the sacred waters running for relaxation, therapy, and fun. Now much closer to a water park, the springs still attract many while the rumors of living long lives and skin rejuvenation still linger about. While those claims are dubious, one thing is for sure: visitors always find the waters too alluring to leave!

But if the springs in a place named Hot Springs are not enough, the town is known for having the largest collection of mammoth bones in the entire world. The excavation site, now turned museum, is always on the verge of making discoveries. Recently, they've even found a fossil of a new capybara species.

The appeal to such a small town is usually limiting, but in the case of Hot Springs, it offers safety and sites that no other place can match.

Yankton

Doing wonders as a place for bodily health, Yankton holds 330 physicians per 100,000 people and also scores 82 out of 100 for air quality (55 being the national average). Also called the "River City", Yankton's proximity to the Missouri River has shaped the town's history in such a way, that it may not exist without it.

Now a city with 14 municipal parks fed by various waterways, Yankton has become known for its Riverside Park which sits right next to the Missouri River. What once was used for transportation and trade now makes for peaceful picnics, relaxing views, and a walk that exhumes the land's history. Nearby, Fantle Memorial Park provides a more active role in being a walking trail and a memorial to fallen veterans.

The simplicity of the River City is its dedication to maintaining its outdoor activities and celebrating the river, which gave it all. Yankton embodies the quiet, natural dream.

Colonial Pine Hills

Although technically not a town or city, Colonial Pine Hills (CPH) is a census-designated place which is growing at a rapid rate. With an unemployment rate of 3%, more jobs are coming to the area and are expected to grow by 23.4% in the near future. With money flooding in, Colonial Pine Hills may have official cityhood in its near future, if not essentially there.

While more development is seen in its future, as it stands now, CPH does not lack forms of neat or novel entertainment. The first and foremost is Reptile Gardens, a wild animal park that allows visitors to get up close and personal with a variety of reptiles and other like-bodied animals. If the cold-blooded creatures are not up to snuff, Bear Country USA offers their warm-blooded and fuzzy counterparts. Showcasing real bears, wolves, deer, and elk, Bear Country exemplifies how Colonial Pine Hills is not short on wildlife parks, or amusement.

Keystone

Living in one of the most popular towns in the state should not mean bragging rights, but in the case of Keystone, it's well warranted. If not for the amazingly low frequency of violent crime (11.2), it is the town's historicity and proximity to historical and natural landmarks that truly set it apart. 

It could be the fact that Mount Rushmore looms in the distance, or the stunning and picturesque Black Hills that look as if they're right from a painting, but Keystone is one of those rare examples of a small town that attracts many but is often overlooked for a permanent stay. The only drawback to living in Keystone is the slightly higher housing prices, but given the unemployment rate of 3.4%, and Keystone education being well-regarded, it more than makes up for its shortcomings.

Aberdeen

Last but not least is the lovely city of Aberdeen. A city that has a cost of living that is 21.6% lower than the national average (78.4/100), a violent crime rate of 16.3 (the national average is 22.7), and a 2.8% unemployment rate, Aberdeen achieves a golden trio and manages to touch all bases. 

But the city also competes with significant and unique sites of recreation. Firstly, there is Wylie Park Recreation Area, which features volleyball courts, go-karting, and paddle boating that surrounds a deep blue body of water called Wylie Lake. Next, there is Storybook Land, a theme park that seeks to recreate old fairytales and bring them to life through a petting zoo, roller coasters, and a castle. Recently adding The Wizard of Oz to its compendium, this is easily the most attention-grabbing site in all of Aberdeen.

Few states can deliver as much as they promise, but South Dakota does and is open to all who can relish its beauty, take in its peace, and appreciate the one-of-a-kind recreations and local attractions that stand out themselves. Planning a move and finding that one dream place is always somewhere nearby, and the final step is to choose which paradise on earth to move to.