South Dakotano income tax, 16th highest property tax, median home $310K

R+27 · Low tax burden · COL index 95

Income Tax

388

Violent Crime / 100K

78.2

Life Expectancy

$310K

Median Home

$900

Childcare / Mo

South Dakota in plain English

Worth knowing before you move to South Dakota

South Dakota has no income tax, no estate tax and no corporate income tax, and it is the country's largest trust jurisdiction because of its favorable trust law. Sales tax applies to groceries and most services. Sioux Falls and Rapid City carry most of the growth; the state's winters are long and its plains are exposed to severe storms. Property taxes are moderate.

What South Dakota taxes, and what it doesn't

South Dakota has no state income tax. Wages, retirement withdrawals and investment income are untouched at the state level, which puts it in a group of 9 states with Alaska, Florida, Nevada and 5 others.

Property tax runs 1.08% of home value a year, roughly $3,348 on the state's median home of $310K. The national effective rate is about 1.10%, and South Dakota has the 16th highest rate of the 50 states.

Combined state and local sales tax averages 6.11%, the 15th lowest in the country (the state portion is 4.2%).

For retirees: Social Security benefits are not taxed, pension income is fully exempt, and there is no estate or inheritance tax.

Housing and the cost of living in South Dakota

South Dakota's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average; that is the 22nd cheapest of the 50 states.

The median home costs $310K, 2% above the national figure and the 19th lowest among the states. A two-bedroom rents for about $1,150 a month.

Carrying costs matter as much as the price: home insurance averages $2,100 a year, flood coverage adds about $600 where it is needed, car insurance runs $1,590.

Budget $130 a month for electricity and gas, $460 a month in groceries for two, $900 a month for full-time infant care.

Safety, health and schools

Violent crime is 388 incidents per 100,000 residents in the FBI's 2023 Crime Data Explorer figures, above the median state (387); South Dakota is the 24th most violent of the 50 by that measure. Property crime is 2,027 per 100,000.

Life expectancy is 78.2 years (County Health Rankings 2024). 9% of residents have no health insurance, and the state has expanded Medicaid. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks South Dakota's health system 28th of 50.

Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks K-12 schools 31st in the country.

Politics, guns and social policy

Politically, South Dakota is a solidly Republican state that went to Trump by 27 points in 2024.

On guns, no permit is required to carry a concealed handgun, and Giffords grades the state's gun laws F.

Abortion is banned with narrow exceptions. Marijuana is medical only. South Dakota is a right-to-work state, and the minimum wage is $11.20 an hour.

Climate, risk and getting around

Natural disaster risk is moderate. The main hazards are blizzard, tornado, drought. Annual average air quality index is 30 (under 50 is good).

South Dakota has no top-25 hub airport, with about 25 nonstop destinations from its busiest airport.

Written from the figures on this page. Rankings compare the 50 states. Sources and years are listed with each figure below.

Largest counties in South Dakota

Minnehaha County Pennington County Lincoln County Brown County Brookings County Meade County Codington County Lawrence County Yankton County Davison County All South Dakota counties →

Ranked lists

State Profile

62/100

South Dakota will change its laws. We'll email you when it does.

One email when South Dakota changes a tax, gun, cannabis or abortion law. Unsubscribe in one click.

Taxes

Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026

▾

Income Tax

None

Property Tax

~$3,348/yr on median home

1.08% / yr

Sales Tax

6.11% avg

Social Security

Exempt

Pension / IRA

Fully Exempt

Estate Tax

None

Inheritance Tax

None

Capital Gains

Not taxed

Housing & Cost of Living

Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)

▾

Price Level vs US (BEA)

Below US average (100)

88.6

Mortgages 90+ Days Late

FHFA, latest quarter

0.6%

Cost of Living Index

National avg = 100

Median Home Price

$310,000

Median Rent (2BR)

$1,150/mo

Home Insurance

Near national avg (~$1,900/yr)

$2,100/yr

Flood Insurance

$600/yr

Homestead Exemption

Home equity protected from creditors

Unlimited

Asset Protection

Strong

Homes in HOAs

HOAs are rare here (Census ACS 2024)

10.0%

Zoning Restrictiveness

Among the least restrictive zoning (Wharton WRLURI 2018)

Permissive

Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb)

Broad state guidelines; local jurisdictions tailor regulations.

Local Control

Crime & Safety

Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024

▾

Violent Crime Rate

Near national avg

388 / 100K

Property Crime Rate

Near national avg

2,027 / 100K

Traffic Fatality Rate

16.2 / 100K

Registered Sex Offenders

Among the highest registry rates (SafeHome 2025)

475 / 100K

Homeless Population

Moderate homelessness rate — 17% unsheltered (HUD 2024 PIT)

145 / 100K

Healthcare

Sources: Commonwealth Fund 2023 · KFF · CDC

▾

State Healthcare Rank

#28 of 50

Life Expectancy

78.2 yrs

Medicaid Expansion

Expanded

Uninsured Rate

Education

Sources: Education Week 2023 · NCES · state statutes (school choice)

▾

College Completion Rate

College Scorecard, in-state institutions (mean)

53%

Avg College Cost of Attendance

College Scorecard 2024

$26,472/yr

K-12 Quality Rank

#31 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Not Available

HS Graduation Rate

Near national avg (~87%)

86.7%

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Near national avg (~16)

12.2 students/teacher

Childcare

Sources: Child Care Aware · Census ACS 2022

▾

Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)

$900/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

Sources: EIA (electricity, weekly gas) · USDA · eGRID 2022

▾

Grid Carbon Intensity

Cleaner than US average (~820)

325 lb CO₂/MWh

Avg Monthly Energy Bill

$130/mo

Electricity Rate

Below national avg (13¢)

11.8¢/kWh

Energy Mix

⚡ 81% renewable · ☀ 0% solar · 💨 58% wind

Avg Monthly Groceries

2-person household, moderate spending

$460/mo

Road Quality Rank

Among the best roads in the US

#2 of 50

Airports & Travel

Sources: FAA · BTS

▾

Nonstop Destinations

From state's primary airport

25+ routes

Major Hub Airport

Regional airport — connections via hub

Culture & Lifestyle

Sources: Census CBP · Brewers Association 2024 · Pollstar · AANR/TNS · AGA 2024

▾

Urban Population

Mix of urban and rural

57% urban

Restaurant Density

Limited dining options

380/100K

Religious Congregations

255/100K

Pro Sports Teams

NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS

None

Major Venues

Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)

2 venues

Craft Breweries

3.4/100K residents — Solid scene

30 breweries

Craft Distilleries

14 distilleries

Live Music

Rapid City growing scene; Sanford Underground Research Facility events; Crow Bar

Limited

Transportation

Sources: NHTSA FARS · FCC · insurance rate surveys 2024 · IIHS helmet laws 2026

▾

Car Insurance (Avg Annual)

$1,590

Traffic Fatality Rate

16.2 / 100K

Broadband Access

78% of households

Work From Home

State residents who primarily work from home (ACS)

38,313 workers

Social & Legal

Sources: Guttmacher · KFF · NCSL · state statutes 2026

▾

Formal Volunteering Rate

AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023 (US ~28%)

37.8%

Votes in Local Elections

AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023

48.7%

Abortion Access

Near-total ban with narrow exceptions

Banned

LGBTQ+ Protections

Hostile

Marijuana

Medical Only

Minimum Wage

$11.2/hr

Right to Work

Yes

Sports Betting

Legal

Casino Gambling

Commercial casinos

Online Gambling

Illegal

State Lottery

Deadwood is a historic gambling destination. Limited-stakes casinos. Video lottery terminals widely available.

Yes

Age of Consent

Sex Education

No state sex ed mandate

Abstinence-only

Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs

No known naturist facilities

None known

Environment & Climate

Sources: EPA AQI · NOAA · FEMA National Risk Index

▾

Air Quality (Annual AQI)

Near national avg

Natural Disaster Risk

Moderate

Primary Hazards

blizzardtornadodrought

Politics & Gun Laws

Sources: OpenElections 2024 · Giffords 2025 · state statutes

▾

2024 Presidential Vote

R+27

Gun Laws

Gun ControlF

2A LibertyA+

Carry Permit

No permit required

Purchase Permit Required

Carry in Bars

Unverified

Carry in Restaurants

Allowed

Carry in Places of Worship

Sources conflict on bar carry (no statute vs. 50% alcohol-revenue threshold) — unverified.

Allowed

Gambling

Legal

Hunting & Outdoors

Sources: state wildlife agencies · USFS · BLM · USFWS (May 2026)

▾

Public Land7% of state

Resident Deer License$29

Deer Archery SeasonSep 1 – Jan 31

CrossbowFull season

Pheasant hunting capital of the US. Deer and pheasant combination trips are common. Long archery season through January.

South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks — Official Season Dates ↗

Finding nearby venues...

From r/hunting

Application season blues : r/Hunting

Deciding between that steep special Wyoming antelope tag for October or may cash in South Dakota for mid November and hunt otc along the way...

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Opening day in South Dakota 14 man limit with 2 guides. Yes I ...

Opening day in South Dakota 14 man limit with 2 guides. Yes I realize some are released and no I don't care they all fall out of the sky the...

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If you could live anywhere based on hunting/fishing where ...

Friendly gun laws. The surrounding states are just a short drive away. We have trophy elk, mule, and coues deer. Giant catfish in our few la...

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I hunted 81 days in 2018 over 8 different hunts in MT, ID ...

300 Savage, which was the rifle I also used for my first deer when I was 13. I got into some bedded elk at 12:30pm at about 100 yards. I onl...

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Jobs & Economy

Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS union membership 2025 · Census ACS

▾

Job Openings Rate (JOLTS)

Near US average (~4.5%)

4.5%

Quits Rate (JOLTS)

Workers quit when they can find better; BLS 2024 average

2.2%

Job Market

+1.3% job growth · 2.2% unemployment

Moderate

Top Industries

FinanceAgricultureHealthcare

Tech Jobs

#36 of 50

Healthcare Jobs

#24 of 50

Remote Work

14% of workers

Median Household Income

$73,893

Union Membership

Among the least unionized states (BLS 2025)

2.3% of workers

Business Climate

Sources: Tax Foundation · state filings

▾

Corporate Income Tax

None

LLC Formation Fee

$150 one-time

LLC Annual Fee

$50/yr

Business Climate Rank

Top-10 nationally (Tax Foundation SBTCI 2024)

#2 of 50

Daily Life

Sources: American Pyrotechnics Association · state statutes 2026 · IIHS

▾

Gas Price (Regular)

Below avg (-0.24 vs national avg)

$3.06/gal

Consumer Fireworks

Consumer fireworks legal statewide

Legal

Motorcycle Helmet Law

Required under 18 (IIHS 2026)

Age-Limited

Weather & Natural Risks

Sources: NOAA · NWS Storm Prediction Center · FEMA NRI

▾

Winter Severity

Avg January high: 23°F

Harsh

Summer Heat

Moderate summers

87°F avg July

Annual Rainfall

19" / yr

Tornado Risk

Moderate

Hurricane Risk

Very Low

Wildfire Risk

Moderate

Flood Risk

Low

Natural Hazards

Sources: USGS · CDC · USDA APHIS · NOAA · FEMA NRI 2023

▾

33MODERATE danger

Tornado HIGHPrairie rattlesnakeBlizzard + polar vortexPrairie dog-to-plague zone

Venomous Snakes

Moderate

Spider Hazard

Moderate

Scorpions

Low

Hurricane Risk

Minimal

Tornado Risk

High

Wildfire Risk

Moderate

Earthquake Risk

Low

Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗

Veteran Benefits

Sources: VA.gov · Military.com state guide · Tax Foundation

▾

Veteran-Friendly Score

10.4% of state population are veterans

79/100

Property Tax Exemption

Disabled vet property tax freeze

Partial

Military Retirement Pay

Tax Exempt

Active Duty Pay

Tax Exempt

VA Facilities Access

Adequate

Notable Benefits

No income tax. No inheritance tax.

Explore South Dakota counties

Income, housing, poverty, healthcare — ranked by county

Explore Counties

See your full cost of living in South Dakota

Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance — all estimated.

Calculate

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Trending in South Dakota

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What Residents Say

Half Country Relocation for 42k Offer : r/cscareerquestions

Like title said, I live in the west coast and just got an offer in South Dakota that requires me to relocate. I've spent 4-5 months out of college applying ......

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Best place to live with 100% rating : r/relocating

South Dakota ranks third nationally for lowest cost of living. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. They have a VA hospital, a low cost of living (SD ......

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Considering Taxes, Cost of Living, Relative Income, etc, is there ...

... be homeless in California. nicqui. •. 10y ago. South Dakota. No state taxes and I'm sure it's about $3 a month to live there. [deleted]. • 10y ago....

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What are your favorite and least favorite things about living ...

Hello! I thought it would be fun to ask this on all the state subreddits for the next 50 days....

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ELI5: If $100 is worth $96 in Washington but $113 in South ...

It's not like you can take a $100 bill from Washington, and sell it in South Dakota for $113. It's that in Washington income levels are much ......

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Is this commercial semi accurate about S.D regarding $79K ...

Is this commercial from Kristi Noem semi accurate ? " Average starting salary $77K" ? Here is the video . Thank you...

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All this and South Dakota too 😬 : r/McMansionHell

It's definitely overpriced. So extra high property taxes to make up for it. Another reason to avoid a $6,000,000 purchase. move to South Dakota....

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SD is 2nd highest state in US for healthcare costs as a ...

People with options don't want to move to West Virginia or South Dakota, so providers have to pay a premium to get people to work here....

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How much do you pay for car/health insurance? ...

ACA policies are based on your income so if you have decent income they will cost quite a bit. SD doesn't. Individual health insurance was over ......

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Renewing driver's license online as South Dakota residence

You have to return to SD once every five years to maintain your residency. While you can renew online, you have to prove you were there in the ......

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South Dakota will change its laws. We'll email you when it does.

One email when South Dakota changes a tax, gun, cannabis or abortion law. Unsubscribe in one click.

Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund 2023; life expectancy from County Health Rankings 2024. Education: Education Week 2023. Housing: Zillow monthly index and Census ACS 2022. Insurance: rate surveys 2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.