South Dakotano income tax, 16th highest property tax, median home $310K
R+27 · Low tax burden · COL index 95
0%
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
State Profile
Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
▾
Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
Income Tax
Property Tax
~$3,348/yr on median home
Sales Tax
Social Security
Pension / IRA
Estate Tax
Inheritance Tax
Capital Gains
Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
▾
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)
Mortgages 90+ Days Late
FHFA, latest quarter
Cost of Living Index
National avg = 100
Median Home Price
Median Rent (2BR)
Home Insurance
Near national avg (~$1,900/yr)
Flood Insurance
Homestead Exemption
Home equity protected from creditors
Asset Protection
Homes in HOAs
HOAs are rare here (Census ACS 2024)
Zoning Restrictiveness
Among the least restrictive zoning (Wharton WRLURI 2018)
Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb)
Broad state guidelines; local jurisdictions tailor regulations.
Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
▾
Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
Violent Crime Rate
Near national avg
Property Crime Rate
Near national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Registered Sex Offenders
Among the highest registry rates (SafeHome 2025)
Homeless Population
Moderate homelessness rate; 17% unsheltered (HUD 2024 PIT)
More on South Dakota
Healthcare#28 of 50▾
Sources: Commonwealth Fund 2023 · KFF · CDC
State Healthcare Rank
Life Expectancy
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
EducationK-12 #31 of 50▾
Sources: Education Week 2023 · NCES · state statutes (school choice)
College Completion Rate
College Scorecard, in-state institutions (mean)
Avg College Cost of Attendance
College Scorecard 2024
K-12 Quality Rank
School Choice / Vouchers
HS Graduation Rate
Near national avg (~87%)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Near national avg (~16)
Childcare$900/mo infant care▾
Sources: Child Care Aware · Census ACS 2022
Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Utilities & Daily Costs$130/mo energy▾
Sources: EIA (electricity, weekly gas) · USDA · eGRID 2022
Grid Carbon Intensity
Cleaner than US average (~820)
Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Electricity Rate
Below national avg (13¢)
Energy Mix
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Among the best roads in the US
Airports & Travel25+ nonstop routes▾
Sources: FAA · BTS
Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Regional airport. Connections via hub
Culture & Lifestyle57% urban▾
Sources: Census CBP · Brewers Association 2024 · Pollstar · AANR/TNS · AGA 2024
Urban Population
Mix of urban and rural
Restaurant Density
Limited dining options
Religious Congregations
Pro Sports Teams
NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS
Major Venues
Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)
Craft Breweries
3.4/100K residents: Solid scene
Craft Distilleries
Live Music
Rapid City growing scene; Sanford Underground Research Facility events; Crow Bar
Transportation$1,590/yr car insurance▾
Sources: NHTSA FARS · FCC · insurance rate surveys 2024 · IIHS helmet laws 2026
Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Work From Home
State residents who primarily work from home (ACS)
Social & Legal$11.2/hr minimum wage▾
Sources: Guttmacher · KFF · NCSL · state statutes 2026
Formal Volunteering Rate
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023 (US ~28%)
Votes in Local Elections
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023
Abortion Access
Near-total ban with narrow exceptions
LGBTQ+ Protections
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Right to Work
Sports Betting
Casino Gambling
Online Gambling
State Lottery
Deadwood is a historic gambling destination. Limited-stakes casinos. Video lottery terminals widely available.
Age of Consent
Sex Education
No state sex ed mandate
Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs
No known naturist facilities
Environment & ClimateAQI 30▾
Sources: EPA AQI · NOAA · FEMA National Risk Index
Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Near national avg
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun LawsR+27 · gun law grade F▾
Sources: OpenElections 2024 · Giffords 2025 · state statutes
2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Carry in Bars
Carry in Restaurants
Carry in Places of Worship
Sources conflict on bar carry (no statute vs. 50% alcohol-revenue threshold) — unverified.
Gambling
Hunting & Outdoors7% public land▾
Sources: state wildlife agencies · USFS · BLM · USFWS (May 2026)
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...
Jobs & Economy2.2% unemployment▾
Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS union membership 2025 · Census ACS
Job Openings Rate (JOLTS)
Near US average (~4.5%)
Quits Rate (JOLTS)
Workers quit when they can find better; BLS 2024 average
Job Market
+1.3% job growth · 2.2% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Healthcare Jobs
Remote Work
Median Household Income
Union Membership
Among the least unionized states (BLS 2025)
Business Climate#2 of 50▾
Sources: Tax Foundation · state filings
Corporate Income Tax
LLC Formation Fee
LLC Annual Fee
Business Climate Rank
Top-10 nationally (Tax Foundation SBTCI 2024)
Daily Life$3.06/gal gas▾
Sources: American Pyrotechnics Association · state statutes 2026 · IIHS
Gas Price (Regular)
Below avg (-0.24 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
Consumer fireworks legal statewide
Motorcycle Helmet Law
Required under 18 (IIHS 2026)
Weather & Natural Risks87°F avg July▾
Sources: NOAA · NWS Storm Prediction Center · FEMA NRI
Winter Severity
Avg January high: 23°F
Summer Heat
Moderate summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Natural Hazards33/100 danger▾
Sources: USGS · CDC · USDA APHIS · NOAA · FEMA NRI 2023
Venomous Snakes
Spider Hazard
Scorpions
Hurricane Risk
Tornado Risk
Wildfire Risk
Earthquake Risk
Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗
Veteran Benefits79/100 veteran-friendly▾
Sources: VA.gov · Military.com state guide · Tax Foundation
Veteran-Friendly Score
10.4% of state population are veterans
Property Tax Exemption
Disabled vet property tax freeze
Military Retirement Pay
Active Duty Pay
VA Facilities Access
Notable Benefits
Explore South Dakota counties
Income, housing, poverty, healthcare, ranked by county
See your full cost of living in South Dakota
Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance: all estimated.
Compare Similar States
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South Dakota vs Idaho
COL 95 vs 96 · No vs 5.3% income tax
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SD vs NC
South Dakota vs North Carolina
COL 95 vs 94 · No vs 3.99% income tax
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SD vs PA
South Dakota vs Pennsylvania
COL 95 vs 97 · No vs 3.07% income tax
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SD vs SC
South Dakota vs South Carolina
COL 95 vs 93 · No vs 5.21% income tax
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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.