South Dakota
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
State Profile
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Get notified when South Dakota tax laws, gun laws, or social policy changes.
Taxes
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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
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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
Crime & Safety
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Violent Crime Rate
Near national avg
Property Crime Rate
Near national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Healthcare
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State Healthcare Rank
Life Expectancy
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
Education
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K-12 Quality Rank
School Choice / Vouchers
Childcare
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Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Utilities & Daily Costs
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Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Among the best roads in the US
Airports & Travel
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Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Regional airport — connections via hub
Culture & Lifestyle
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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
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Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Social & Legal
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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 & Climate
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Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Near national avg
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun Laws
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2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Gambling
Hunting & Outdoors
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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
Which state is the most difficult to hunt in, for residents and ...
South Dakota is a little under 4%. South Dakota is pretty good for archery antelope and mule deer. Or was. Bad winters and over harvest for ...
reddit.com ↗
South Dakota spot and stalk : r/Hunting
Evening all! I am headed to South Dakota, Harding County, next week to do my first ever Spot and Stalk hunt on Mule deer and speed goats....
reddit.com ↗
South Dakota to Issue 'Unlimited' Elk Tags for Hunters East ...
Here in Nebraska, the eastern half of the state is unit 15 for elk. If you get permit for units 1-14, it's also valid for unit 15....
reddit.com ↗
SD public land monster : r/Hunting
South Dakota/Wyoming deer and pronghorn options. 6. 7. Which elk season? ... Which elk season? 0. 7. My South Dakota whitetail · r/Hunting. ...
reddit.com ↗
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Jobs & Economy
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Job Market
+1.3% job growth · 2.2% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Healthcare Jobs
Remote Work
Median Household Income
Business Climate
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Corporate Income Tax
LLC Formation Fee
LLC Annual Fee
Business Climate Rank
Top-10 nationally (Tax Foundation SBTCI 2024)
Daily Life
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Gas Price (Regular)
Below avg (-0.24 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
Consumer fireworks legal statewide
Weather & Natural Risks
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Winter Severity
Avg January high: 23°F
Summer Heat
Moderate summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Natural Hazards
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Venomous Snakes
Spider Hazard
Scorpions
Hurricane Risk
Tornado Risk
Wildfire Risk
Earthquake Risk
Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗
Veteran Benefits
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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
SD vs ID
South Dakota vs Idaho
COL 95 vs 96 · No vs 5.8% income tax
Full comparison →
SD vs NC
South Dakota vs North Carolina
COL 95 vs 94 · No vs 4.5% income tax
Full comparison →
SD vs PA
South Dakota vs Pennsylvania
COL 95 vs 97 · No vs 3.07% income tax
Full comparison →
SD vs SC
South Dakota vs South Carolina
COL 95 vs 93 · No vs 6.2% income tax
Full comparison →
Trending in South Dakota
Candidate condemns 'whoever' approved a runoff law, and it turns out to be a legend from his city - South Dakota Searchlight
South Dakota Searchlight · Jun 9
South Dakota Governor Primary Election Results - The New York Times
The New York Times · Jun 10
All Nine South Dakota Tribes Pass Resolutions Supporting Developing Legislation To Return Federal Lands: Lakota Nation United in Effort for Black Hills Federal Lands Return - NDN Collective
NDN Collective · Jun 9
What to Know About 2026 South Dakota Taxes - AARP
AARP · Jun 8
What to know about the SD's first gubernatorial runoff - South Dakota News Watch
South Dakota News Watch · Jun 10
What Residents Say
Paid-off home in Texas would cost the same as renting ...
Rent + utilities: ~$1,250/month $1,100-1,450/month. SD doesn't have state income tax, either. s no state income tax in SD either. No state ......
reddit.com ↗
Thinking of moving to South Dakota in the next 3 years.
SD doesn't have a robust tax system. Will you pay less in taxes in South Dakota. Maryland? Probably. you will make less money,...
reddit.com ↗
Is South Dakota a Good Place to Live? Taxes, Safety, Housing ...
Is South Dakota a Good Place to Live? Taxes, Safety, Housing, Jobs and Cost of Living Information....
reddit.com ↗
South Dakota and Minnesota taxes on 90% of residents ...
South Dakota and Minnesota taxes on 90% of residents essentially. SD is about 1.12, wages average 20% more. SD has no income tax. 2% higher on ......
reddit.com ↗
Moving to South Dakota for 50% more compensation
South Dakota has an additional perk: no state income tax. states you'll save about 30-50k in taxes with a combined income of 500k, or with an ......
reddit.com ↗
Thinking about moving to South Dakota in the future
South Dakota is one of the most regressive tax states in the US. It puts the tax burden on middle and low income people. taxed and taxed fairly ......
reddit.com ↗
Single in South Dakota? You need $52095/year to live ...
Speaking more generally, no state income tax helps, and a relatively low cost of living stretches your paycheck!...
reddit.com ↗
South Dakota has the third lowest percentage of household ...
South Dakota has the third lowest percentage of household income that goes to housing costs, at just 16.61% the median housing cost is $2,055. ......
reddit.com ↗
Thinking of moving to South Dakota. Any advice?
It's honestly not that bad. No state income tax, affordable cost of living, friendly communities and low crime rate. The state is split in half ......
reddit.com ↗
10 reasons Everyone is moving to South Dakota : r/SouthDakota
SD is a really great deal, financially, for those of us who came from more expensive states. Quite a savings. And when you're retired, no taxes ......
reddit.com ↗
Stay Current
Get notified when South Dakota tax laws, gun laws, or social policy changes.
Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI UCR ~2022. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund / US News ~2023. Education: Education Week ~2023. Housing: Zillow / Census ACS ~2024. Insurance: rate surveys ~2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.