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
Stay Current
Get notified when South Dakota tax laws, gun laws, or social policy changes.
Taxes
▾
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
▾
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
▾
Violent Crime Rate
Near national avg
Property Crime Rate
Near national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Healthcare
▾
State Healthcare Rank
Life Expectancy
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
Education
▾
K-12 Quality Rank
School Choice / Vouchers
Childcare
▾
Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Utilities & Daily Costs
▾
Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Among the best roads in the US
Airports & Travel
▾
Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Regional airport — connections via hub
Culture & Lifestyle
▾
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
▾
Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Social & Legal
▾
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
▾
Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Near national avg
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun Laws
▾
2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Gambling
Hunting & Outdoors
▾
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
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 ↗
Which state is the most difficult to hunt in, for residents and ...
Western South Dakota is pretty good for archery antelope and mule deer. Or was. Bad winters and over harvest for antelope and deer the past ...
reddit.com ↗
Best state to live in for a hunter? : r/Hunting
South Dakota. Great deer hunting, limited draw elk (but close to CO for OTC), world class waterfowl and pheasant, and the absolute best pred...
reddit.com ↗
What can you tell me about South Dakota public land mule ...
Hey gang,. As the title suggests, I am going to be trying my hand at a South Dakota mule deer spot and stalk hunt....
reddit.com ↗
Why we recommend them
If you're hunting elk in Wyoming, whitetail in Kansas, or black bear in West Virginia — Ravin builds the most accurate crossbows on the planet. Rifle-like precision at 500 FPS. We're proud to partner with them.
Jobs & Economy
▾
Job Market
+1.3% job growth · 2.2% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Healthcare Jobs
Remote Work
Median Household Income
Business Climate
▾
Corporate Income Tax
LLC Formation Fee
LLC Annual Fee
Business Climate Rank
Top-10 nationally (Tax Foundation SBTCI 2024)
Daily Life
▾
Gas Price (Regular)
Below avg (-0.24 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
Consumer fireworks legal statewide
Weather & Natural Risks
▾
Winter Severity
Avg January high: 23°F
Summer Heat
Moderate summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Natural Hazards
▾
Venomous Snakes
Spider Hazard
Scorpions
Hurricane Risk
Tornado Risk
Wildfire Risk
Earthquake Risk
Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗
Veteran Benefits
▾
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
‘Come fund our government’ isn’t likely to succeed as a tourism slogan - South Dakota Searchlight
South Dakota Searchlight · Jul 5
Jerry Schmitz named 2026 South Dakota Governor's Ag Ambassador - Agweek
Agweek · Jul 7
TenHaken steps into South Dakota governor fray with endorsement - The Dakota Scout
The Dakota Scout · Jul 6
Sioux Falls mayor Paul TenHaken endorses Rhoden for South Dakota governor - Sioux Falls Live
Sioux Falls Live · Jul 6
Fact brief: Are lieutenant governor picks always announced after the nominee is selected? - Dakota News Now
Dakota News Now · Jul 6
What Residents Say
Paid-off home in Texas would cost the same as renting ...
There's no state income tax in SD either. That's like the one area where OP did make an apples-to-apples comparison....
reddit.com ↗
Is South Dakota a Good Place to Live? Taxes, Safety ...
Is South Dakota a Good Place to Live? Taxes, Safety, Housing, Jobs and Cost of Living Information....
reddit.com ↗
Thinking of moving to South Dakota in the next 3 years.
Part of the reason you will pay less in taxes in South Dakota is because you will make less money, and another part of it is because there are ......
reddit.com ↗
South Dakota and Minnesota taxes on 90% of residents ...
Taxes balance out to roughly the same. Sure there's no state income tax in SD, but MN makes up for it in property taxes and taxes on necessities....
reddit.com ↗
Moving to South Dakota for 50% more compensation
From a strictly financial point of view, South Dakota has an additional perk: no state income tax. If you're moving in from Florida this isn't ......
reddit.com ↗
Single in South Dakota? You need $52095/year to live ...
South Dakota has no state income tax and some of the lowest cost of living. We aren't ashamed to use coupons, buy clothes from garage sales, buy ......
reddit.com ↗
Thinking about moving to South Dakota in the future
South Dakota is one of the most regressive tax states in the US. I know the no state taxes thing sounds good but it is actually only good for ......
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%. News....
reddit.com ↗
Are you earning a living wage in South Dakota?
I make what I consider a lot of money. Years ago I was able to put upwards of 15% into my 401k and live comfortably....
reddit.com ↗
Move from California to South Dakota, See Income Loss ...
Our property taxes in SF are lower too and are locked in at purchase price + set yearly increases to not price people out via taxes. In SD I ......
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.