9 Best Places To Retire In South Dakota
To float down a river. To hear the laughter of children. To enjoy a delicious brunch at a downtown restaurant on a Wednesday. To go swimming on a whim. To mow your lawn on a Monday. To walk your dog. To do nothing. The last half of life — many will agree — may just be the best part of life. Fortunately, South Dakota ensures empty nesters live their golden years fully and comfortably. You can opt for Milbank and enjoy fantastic access to the awe-inspiring Hartford Beach State Park — or Spearfish, so you can have the Black Hills National Forest to yourself. Better still, don't rush it. Consider many other options and what they offer. For specific recommendations, discover the nine best places to retire in South Dakota.
Milbank
You will instantly fall in love with Milbank, a slow-moving town on the south fork of Whetstone Creek regarded as the Birthplace of American Legion Baseball. Milbank has warm, friendly residents, a fantastic community center, and boasts 15-minute access to Hartford Beach State Park. Unity Health and Fitness has a walking track and a full gym, while Hartford is a year-round recreation venue that provides hiking, swimming, and camping opportunities. Plus, there is the Big Stone Lake, Lake Farley Park, a small but convenient airport, and cool, old-timey spots, including the 44-foot-high Milbank Grist Mill.
A retiree will be at the doorstep of the highly rated Milbank Area Health Care Campus, so there is no need to worry about healthcare access. The median listing home price in Milbank, SD, was $226,000 in October 2024, way lower than the state’s median listing price of approximately $372,500. Considering seniors aged 65 and above comprise 24% of Milbank’s population, one will not feel out of place.
Spearfish
In Spearfish, a charming town backdropped by beautiful rolling hills, a retiree will enjoy a convenient, 40-minute access to Rapid City (it is the second-largest in the state), a world of outdoor adventure opportunities at the Black Hills National Forest — and the color and vibrancy that comes with retiring in a college town. You can hike Lookout Mountain, swim at the Spearfish Creek, and chill at the Spearfish Rec & Aquatics Center. Plus, the road through Spearfish Canyon is jaw-dropping and can make you think you are in Colorado. For those who cannot live far from delicious, crispy-crust pizzas, there is the Dough Trader Pizza, recently ranked by Yelp among the best pizza spots in the Midwest.
What’s more? You have the highly rated Monument Health Spearfish Hospital and can easily find a crowd to roll with, especially because seniors aged 65 and above comprise 22% of the town’s population. The median listing home price in Spearfish, SD, is higher than the state average at $669,000 in October 2024.
Madison
Picture this. You are 50 minutes away from South Dakota’s largest city (Sioux Falls), at the doorstep of one of the most technologically advanced campuses in the Midwest — and positioned between two beautiful lakes. These are some of Madison’s most alluring features. The 143-year-old Dakota State University gives 45% tuition discounts to eligible seniors, while Lake Herman (to the West) and Lake Madison (to the East) are fantastic year-round recreational venues.
There is a municipal airport, meaning you can hop on a plane to New York City on a whim, and a fairly good hospital: Madison Regional Health System. The social landscape also hits the right spot, especially considering retirees aged 65 and above comprise 21% of the town’s population. The median listing home price in Madison, SD, was $299,000 in October 2024, which is really a steal, looking at what Madison offers.
Dakota Dunes
A life that involves spending time at well-maintained golf courses, enjoying immediate access to two scenic rivers, and exploring the many cultural attractions of a nearby city — should be every retiree’s dream. Dakota Dunes offers the incredibly beautiful Dakota Dunes Country Club, the fast-flowing Missouri River, and the boundary-making Big Sioux River. Moreover, situated in the far southeastern corner of the state, Sioux City, Iowa, is just 6 miles down the road and offers a fantastic museum with interactive displays, an airport, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, and the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway, which cuts through one of Iowa's most extraordinary landscapes.
Dunes Surgical Hospital has won the Outstanding Patient Experience Award for three consecutive years, including 2024. On the social side, retirees aged 65 and above comprise 18% of the town’s population. The median listing home price in Dakota Dunes, SD, was $622,500 in October 2024.
Huron
Welcome to the Ringneck Nation of South Dakota, where pheasants outnumber people. Huron is on the banks of the James River. There is the Ravine Park Lake, an awesome paddle-boating spot; a beautiful loop trail around it, the Nordby Center For Recreation; a nice public library with a great selection of books; and a state fair that enlivens the town every summer.
Huron particularly scores big on affordability. The median listing home price was just $219,000 in October 2024. Also, Huron Regional Medical Center is right in town and has been providing medical services since when Harry Truman was president of the United States. Moreover, with those aged 65 and above comprising 19% of the population, Huron’s social landscape easily meets the needs of most retirees.
Mitchell
Whether you want to narrow it down to its highly rated public schools, the presence of not one but two colleges, proximity to big towns — including Sioux Falls — which is just about an hour away, nice parks, or a municipal airport serving many routes, Mitchell has earned its place among the best towns in South Dakota to retire. Dakota Wesleyan University was founded in 1885, and its campus is on the National Register of Historic Places. There is Lake Mitchell, James River, and the well-maintained Dakota Campground.
The median listing home price in Mitchell, SD, was $287,000 in October 2024, which is way lower than the state median — while residents aged 65 and above comprise 21% of the population. You don't have to make a back-breaking trip to the hospital, either. Avera Queen of Peace Hospital is right in town and has been providing medical services since 1906.
Brookings
Brookings is in the picturesque Big Sioux River valley — just 55 miles north of Sioux Falls. You know what this means: Unmatched access to big-city amenities, including some top-notch cultural attractions. It is home to the 143-year-old South Dakota State University, which has an extension program offering education and resources to older adults and their families. Moreover, one can spend time at the South Dakota Art Museum, the South Dakota State Agricultural Heritage Museum, or the Edgebrook Golf Course. A hair out of town, there is the Oakwood Lakes State Park, a great spot for swimming, hiking, cross-country skiing, boating, and disc golfing.
It just gets better. Brookings Health System, which is feted with the 2024 Outstanding Patient Experience Award, is right in town. With residents aged 65 and above comprising 11% of the population, there is a circle you can join and find suitable. The median listing home price in Brookings, SD, was $359,900 in October 2024.
Hill City
So long as small towns have not lost their charm and character, their family-like warmth and personality — towns like Hill City will always attract considerable attention. Every morning, you can mount your bike, and zip along the well-maintained Burlington Northern Hill City Trailhead, George S.Mickelson Trail. After this, you can whip up a delicious breakfast or head over to Downtown Deli & Bakery on Main Street for a serving that is quick but heavenly.
Looking for a glimmering body of water? There's Major Lake. So, dust up your fishing gear. Plus, just for the views, the Stables at Palmer Gulch can easily become a routine. Hill City is 30 minutes from Rapid City, so don't worry about amenities, including hospitals. Seniors aged 65 and above comprise 14% of Hill City's population. Even if you are not a social butterfly, you can easily find peers in the same age bracket. The median listing home price in Hill City, SD, was $387,000 in October 2024.
Dell Rapids
A sparse, suburban feel. The meandering presence of the Big Sioux River. Family-friendly amenities, especially parks. Ample sidewalks for strolling around and riding bicycles. The Rocky Run Golf Course, loved for its well-maintained greens. Several scenic trails, including the ones that run along the river. And best of all, 30-minute access to Sioux Falls. These — and more — are the reasons Dell Rapids earns a spot among the best places to retire in South Dakota.
Although Avera Dells Area Hospital is right in town, Sanford USD Medical Center, a recipient of not one but 7 prestigious medical awards, is down the road in Sioux Falls. The median listing home price in Dell Rapids, SD, was $307,500 in October 2024, nothing outrageous. Finally, residents aged 65 and above comprise 18% of the population, meaning you can plot fireside chats with fellow empty nesters.
To retire in the Midwest, where the true American spirit lives, where residents are down-to-earth, warm-hearted, and outgoing — is something every empty nester should consider. There is unmatched access to the outdoors, including shimmering lakes, tumbling rapids, and majestic forests. So look for spots with ample amenities, especially good hospitals. The truth is, these towns — whether Milbank or Madison — are among the best places to retire in South Dakota.
