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South Dakota

R+27  ·  Low tax burden  ·  COL index 95

A

0%

Income Tax

388

Violent Crime / 100K

78.2

Life Expectancy

$310K

Median Home

$900

Childcare / Mo

State Profile

62/100
255075100TAXES77SAFETY59HEALTH45SCHOOLS39AFFORDABLE81LONGEVITY68

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Taxes

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

Cost of Living Index

National avg = 100

95

Median Home Price

$310,000

Median Rent (2BR)

$1,150/mo

Home Insurance

$2,100/yr

Flood Insurance

$600/yr

Homestead Exemption

Home equity protected from creditors

Unlimited

Asset Protection

Strong

Crime & Safety

Violent Crime Rate

Near national avg

388 / 100K

Property Crime Rate

Near national avg

2,027 / 100K

Traffic Fatality Rate

16.2 / 100K

Healthcare

State Healthcare Rank

#28 of 50

Life Expectancy

78.2 yrs

Medicaid Expansion

Expanded

Uninsured Rate

9%

Education

K-12 Quality Rank

#31 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Not Available

Childcare

Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)

$900/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

Avg Monthly Energy Bill

$130/mo

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

Nonstop Destinations

From state's primary airport

25+ routes

Major Hub Airport

Regional airport — connections via hub

No

Culture & Lifestyle

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

Car Insurance (Avg Annual)

$1,590

Traffic Fatality Rate

16.2 / 100K

Broadband Access

78% of households

Social & Legal

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

16

Sex Education

No state sex ed mandate

Abstinence-only

Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs

No known naturist facilities

None known

Environment & Climate

Air Quality (Annual AQI)

Near national avg

30

Natural Disaster Risk

Moderate

Primary Hazards

blizzardtornadodrought

Politics & Gun Laws

2024 Presidential Vote

R+27

Gun Laws

Gun ControlF
2A LibertyA+

Carry Permit

No permit required

Purchase Permit Required

No

Gambling

Legal

Jobs & Economy

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

$61,878

Daily Life

Gas Price (Regular)

Below avg (-0.24 vs national avg)

$3.06/gal

Consumer Fireworks

Consumer fireworks legal statewide

Legal

Weather & Natural Risks

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

Veteran Benefits

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.

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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 →

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.

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