Best overall
Miner County
Overall score 83.1
Economy 70.3 / Affordability 82.2
State rankings
Best Counties to Live in South Dakota
Compare counties in South Dakota by affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and quality-of-life tradeoffs.
Use the county-size filter to compare large metro counties, mid-size counties, small counties, and rural areas separately. These modules are a starting point, then you can open the full rankings table or compare individual counties.
County size
County size helps compare places with similar scale. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Showing all 66 South Dakota counties
Use this state ranking
Compare counties in South Dakota
Put South Dakota counties side by side.
Estimate moving costs
Compare housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, insurance, and tax-pressure estimates.
Open South Dakota rankings
Open the full South Dakota ranking table with filters.
Explore on the map
Scan county scores geographically across the country.
South Dakota county rankings at a glance
Compact winners for common county-search priorities.
Best for families
Faulk County
Family score 89.8
Schools 95.8 / Safety 96.5
Best value
Miner County
Value score 81.9
Affordability 82.2 / Taxes 78.3
Most affordable
McPherson County
Affordability 92.3
Typical home $85,600
Best schools
Douglas County
Schools 96.5
Safety 85 / Economy 65.4
Safest
Walworth County
Safety 99.9
Schools 62.7 / Peace 92.7
Low taxes
Oglala Lakota County
Taxes 96
Affordability 85.7 / Typical home $52,900
Peace & quiet
Hughes County
Peace & Quiet 96.5
Density and built-environment signals
Top counties by category
Use these short lists to jump into the state rankings that match your priorities.
Best overall counties in South Dakota
View full- 1Miner County
Typical home $193,715
83.1
Overall
- 2Douglas County
Typical home $166,900
81.8
Overall
- 3Campbell County
Typical home $209,028
80.5
Overall
- 4Deuel County
Typical home $312,820
80.4
Overall
- 5Grant County
Typical home $233,712
80.3
Overall
Best counties for families in South Dakota
View full- 1Faulk County
Typical home $147,500
89.8
Family
- 2Miner County
Typical home $193,715
88.7
Family
- 3Douglas County
Typical home $166,900
88.7
Family
- 4Campbell County
Typical home $209,028
87.6
Family
- 5Jones County
Typical home $139,600
86.5
Family
Best value counties in South Dakota
View full- 1Miner County
Typical home $193,715
81.9
Value
- 2Faulk County
Typical home $147,500
80.0
Value
- 3Edmunds County
Typical home $223,899
79.9
Value
- 4Clark County
Typical home $206,810
79.7
Value
- 5Mellette County
Typical home $84,100
79.5
Value
Most affordable counties in South Dakota
View full- 1McPherson County
Typical home $85,600
92.3
Afford.
- 2Douglas County
Typical home $166,900
90.5
Afford.
- 3Dewey County
Typical home $69,600
88.4
Afford.
- 4Hanson County
Typical home $191,200
87.9
Afford.
- 5Aurora County
Typical home $151,900
87.8
Afford.
Best school counties in South Dakota
View full- 1Douglas County
Typical home $166,900
96.5
Schools
- 2Campbell County
Typical home $209,028
96.5
Schools
- 3Faulk County
Typical home $147,500
95.8
Schools
- 4Davison County
Typical home $246,851
95.3
Schools
- 5Hamlin County
Typical home $329,796
92.5
Schools
Lowest tax-score counties in South Dakota
View full- 1Oglala Lakota County
Typical home $52,900
96
Taxes
- 2Buffalo County
Typical home $117,800
94.7
Taxes
- 3Jerauld County
Typical home $242,971
85.5
Taxes
- 4Jackson County
Typical home $158,433
85
Taxes
- 5Ziebach County
Typical home $99,600
84.4
Taxes
Quietest counties in South Dakota
View full- 1Hughes County
Typical home $289,411
96.5
Quiet
- 2Buffalo County
Typical home $117,800
96.5
Quiet
- 3Brown County
Typical home $238,215
96.2
Quiet
- 4Beadle County
Typical home $184,430
96.2
Quiet
- 5Codington County
Typical home $335,019
96
Quiet
Safest counties in South Dakota
View full- 1Walworth County
Typical home $134,456
99.9
Safety
- 2Kingsbury County
Typical home $252,217
99.8
Safety
- 3Harding County
Typical home $275,936
98.7
Safety
- 4Mellette County
Typical home $84,100
98.6
Safety
- 5Davison County
Typical home $246,851
98.4
Safety
Popular South Dakota county comparisons
Put two counties side by side before you narrow the search.
How to choose a county in South Dakota
The best county in South Dakota depends on what you need most. Families may care more about schools and safety, budget-focused movers may care more about affordability and taxes, and quiet-living households may care more about density and peace & quiet. Large counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so use the county-size filter to compare places with similar scale.
Best for different needs
Best overall counties in South Dakota
For best overall counties in South Dakota, Miner County, Douglas County, and Campbell County stand out in this model because they combine several public-data signals instead of winning on only one category.
View this rankingBest counties for families in South Dakota
For families, Faulk County, Miner County, and Douglas County score well in the family blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet.
View this rankingMost affordable counties in South Dakota
For affordability-focused movers, McPherson County, Douglas County, and Dewey County may appeal because they score well on housing and income tradeoff signals in the current model.
View this rankingBest school counties in South Dakota
For school-first households, Douglas County, Campbell County, and Faulk County lead the current school score, though families should still compare district-level details.
View this rankingBest low-tax counties in South Dakota
For lower tax-pressure searches, Oglala Lakota County, Buffalo County, and Jerauld County score well on the tax model, but buyers should still check local property taxes and carrying costs.
View this rankingBest quiet counties in South Dakota
For quieter-living searches, Hughes County, Buffalo County, and Brown County stand out on peace & quiet signals such as density and built-environment indicators.
View this rankingWhat to watch before moving to South Dakota
Compare county scale carefully in South Dakota; large metro counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Check town-level housing costs, commute patterns, school districts, and local services before making a final move decision.
Frequently asked questions about the best counties in South Dakota
What is the best county to live in South Dakota?
The best county depends on your priorities. In this ranking model, Miner County currently scores highest overall, but families, budget-focused movers, and quiet-living households may prefer different counties.
What is the best county in South Dakota for families?
Based on the family ranking blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet, Faulk County stands out in this model.
What is the most affordable county in South Dakota?
McPherson County scores highly on affordability in this model, but buyers should still compare home prices, taxes, insurance, commute costs, and local job access.
How should I compare large and small counties?
Use the county-size filter. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so comparing similar county sizes usually gives a more realistic shortlist.
Are these rankings based on reviews?
No. These rankings use public-data signals such as affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and peace & quiet. Local reviews and personal visits should still be part of a final decision.
Which South Dakota counties score well for schools or taxes?
Douglas County currently leads the school-score view, while Oglala Lakota County stands out on the tax-score view. Use the rankings presets to compare those priorities separately.
All South Dakota counties
Showing all 66 South Dakota counties ranked by the default generated overall score.
| Rank | County | Overall | Economy | Afford. | Schools | Safety | Taxes | Peace & Quiet | Typical home | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miner County FIPS 46097 | 83.1 | 70.3 | 82.2 | 91.8 | 96.9 | 78.3 | 84.8 | $193,715 | $76,140 |
| 2 | Douglas County FIPS 46043 | 81.8 | 65.4 | 90.5 | 96.5 | 85 | 62.3 | 91.7 | $166,900 | $86,442 |
| 3 | Campbell County FIPS 46021 | 80.5 | 67.8 | 72.9 | 96.5 | 90.4 | 77.7 | 93.7 | $209,028 | $68,929 |
| 4 | Deuel County FIPS 46039 | 80.4 | 88.5 | 57.5 | 86.1 | 94.4 | 82.6 | 85.6 | $312,820 | $83,112 |
| 5 | Grant County FIPS 46051 | 80.3 | 82.1 | 68.7 | 88.9 | 82.6 | 76.6 | 95.9 | $233,712 | $75,028 |
| 6 | Marshall County FIPS 46091 | 80.2 | 86.5 | 65.4 | 84.3 | 85.4 | 82.6 | 86.5 | $234,505 | $78,156 |
| 7 | Aurora County FIPS 46003 | 79.9 | 70.4 | 87.8 | 84.7 | 86.6 | 58.7 | 90.5 | $151,900 | $72,885 |
| 8 | Hamlin County FIPS 46057 | 79.3 | 89.3 | 54.6 | 92.5 | 89.5 | 71.6 | 85.4 | $329,796 | $87,101 |
| 9 | Jones County FIPS 46075 | 79.2 | 61.5 | 84.5 | 85.6 | 97.9 | 64 | 89 | $139,600 | $65,119 |
| 10 | Faulk County FIPS 46049 | 78.7 | 46.7 | 82.8 | 95.8 | 96.5 | 81.5 | 91.5 | $147,500 | $57,750 |
| 11 | Hand County FIPS 46059 | 78.1 | 76.5 | 60 | 89 | 87.7 | 83.1 | 93.8 | $256,242 | $74,635 |
| 12 | Gregory County FIPS 46053 | 77.8 | 67.7 | 84.4 | 74.1 | 97.7 | 58.7 | 89.4 | $139,900 | $62,917 |
| 13 | Haakon County FIPS 46055 | 77.8 | 68.4 | 81.6 | 81.1 | 87.9 | 64.1 | 88.7 | $164,200 | $65,625 |
| 14 | McCook County FIPS 46087 | 77.4 | 80.8 | 66.1 | 86.8 | 83.5 | 63 | 89.5 | $287,316 | $83,852 |
| 15 | Edmunds County FIPS 46045 | 77.2 | 69 | 76.8 | 75.7 | 85 | 83 | 92 | $223,899 | $81,630 |
| 16 | Hanson County FIPS 46061 | 76.9 | 69 | 87.9 | 69.2 | 90.7 | 57.1 | 91.3 | $191,200 | $81,071 |
| 17 | Perkins County FIPS 46105 | 76.7 | 72.6 | 75.2 | 75.5 | 88.8 | 67.5 | 90.7 | $175,637 | $66,908 |
| 18 | Lake County FIPS 46079 | 76.6 | 82 | 53 | 87.9 | 96.8 | 61.7 | 92.4 | $306,912 | $76,808 |
| 19 | Davison County FIPS 46035 | 76.3 | 72.1 | 58.9 | 95.3 | 98.4 | 49.7 | 95.9 | $246,851 | $66,208 |
| 20 | Lincoln County FIPS 46083 | 76.3 | 93.3 | 56 | 82.9 | 88.6 | 47.1 | 87.9 | $378,566 | $99,166 |
| 21 | Union County FIPS 46127 | 76.1 | 82.1 | 55.7 | 85.8 | 94.8 | 54.4 | 95.7 | $353,490 | $89,636 |
| 22 | McPherson County FIPS 46089 | 76 | 65.6 | 92.3 | 78 | 86.2 | 35.7 | 88.7 | $85,600 | $66,906 |
| 23 | Hutchinson County FIPS 46067 | 75.8 | 64.1 | 73.7 | 76.6 | 98.4 | 64.8 | 95.6 | $217,198 | $73,977 |
| 24 | Codington County FIPS 46029 | 75.5 | 78 | 46.8 | 89.7 | 97.4 | 69.2 | 96 | $335,019 | $72,727 |
| 25 | Brown County FIPS 46013 | 74.8 | 70.8 | 63.6 | 85.5 | 96.7 | 47.4 | 96.2 | $238,215 | $70,898 |
| 26 | Bon Homme County FIPS 46009 | 74.5 | 57.1 | 78.7 | 81.3 | 92.9 | 58.2 | 91.6 | $172,895 | $64,435 |
| 27 | Harding County FIPS 46063 | 74.5 | 79.9 | 58.1 | 66.8 | 98.7 | 74.8 | 86.8 | $275,936 | $80,441 |
| 28 | Kingsbury County FIPS 46077 | 74.3 | 66.2 | 63.9 | 74.8 | 99.8 | 74.8 | 88.2 | $252,217 | $74,000 |
| 29 | Turner County FIPS 46125 | 74.3 | 77.5 | 61.5 | 82.8 | 77.6 | 68.8 | 89.7 | $297,529 | $75,771 |
| 30 | Brule County FIPS 46015 | 73.9 | 70.4 | 63.8 | 75.4 | 94.3 | 64.2 | 93.7 | $246,697 | $73,720 |
| 31 | Walworth County FIPS 46129 | 73.9 | 63.7 | 86.6 | 62.7 | 99.9 | 41.2 | 92.7 | $134,456 | $65,026 |
| 32 | Potter County FIPS 46107 | 73.2 | 60.9 | 63.2 | 89.1 | 85.6 | 71.4 | 87.3 | $232,681 | $72,045 |
| 33 | Sanborn County FIPS 46111 | 72.3 | 63.9 | 71.5 | 64 | 90 | 77 | 88.8 | $238,879 | $78,750 |
| 34 | Yankton County FIPS 46135 | 72.1 | 72.9 | 60.2 | 75.7 | 86 | 60 | 95.2 | $274,934 | $72,821 |
| 35 | Hughes County FIPS 46065 | 72 | 78.1 | 61.1 | 59.7 | 97.9 | 57.8 | 96.5 | $289,411 | $81,395 |
| 36 | Brookings County FIPS 46011 | 71.1 | 76 | 43.5 | 87.7 | 92.3 | 50.4 | 95 | $312,526 | $70,064 |
| 37 | Stanley County FIPS 46117 | 71 | 77.4 | 63.1 | 52.7 | 96.6 | 62 | 92.6 | $312,917 | $87,712 |
| 38 | Minnehaha County FIPS 46099 | 70.5 | 75 | 50.8 | 79.9 | 95.6 | 47.5 | 79.9 | $323,682 | $76,880 |
| 39 | Clark County FIPS 46025 | 69.7 | 73.6 | 74.3 | 30.9 | 96 | 76.9 | 90.1 | $206,810 | $70,726 |
| 40 | Spink County FIPS 46115 | 69.5 | 70.6 | 77.9 | 55.8 | 68.9 | 62.9 | 92.7 | $169,579 | $70,139 |
| 41 | Tripp County FIPS 46123 | 68.7 | 64.1 | 62.9 | 50.9 | 95.2 | 77.8 | 93.7 | $199,702 | $58,987 |
| 42 | Sully County FIPS 46119 | 68.6 | 61.8 | 53.3 | 89.8 | 66.2 | 77.3 | 84.4 | $278,457 | $72,578 |
| 43 | Moody County FIPS 46101 | 68.2 | 75.9 | 59.5 | 45.2 | 96.4 | 61.4 | 94.7 | $293,836 | $78,427 |
| 44 | Butte County FIPS 46019 | 67.8 | 81.3 | 45.8 | 49.8 | 95.3 | 72.6 | 90.4 | $355,827 | $75,652 |
| 45 | Beadle County FIPS 46005 | 67.3 | 64 | 76.1 | 36.1 | 98.2 | 55.2 | 96.2 | $184,430 | $67,681 |
| 46 | Jerauld County FIPS 46073 | 66.8 | 69.7 | 69 | 27.3 | 89.5 | 85.5 | 93.2 | $242,971 | $73,750 |
| 47 | Meade County FIPS 46093 | 66.3 | 79.6 | 36 | 73.1 | 81.4 | 58.4 | 95.1 | $394,532 | $74,790 |
| 48 | Fall River County FIPS 46047 | 65.3 | 76.2 | 55.6 | 52.2 | 67.8 | 70.1 | 93.8 | $273,966 | $67,917 |
| 49 | Hyde County FIPS 46069 | 64.7 | 79 | 84.5 | 1.4 | 85 | 61 | 93.7 | $181,600 | $73,472 |
| 50 | Clay County FIPS 46027 | 64.2 | 60 | 37.2 | 87.1 | 91.9 | 41.4 | 91.3 | $284,411 | $56,850 |
| 51 | Lawrence County FIPS 46081 | 64.1 | 80.5 | 17.6 | 68.7 | 96.6 | 69.6 | 88.2 | $449,279 | $73,384 |
| 52 | Day County FIPS 46037 | 63.1 | 67.2 | 55.1 | 42.5 | 83.6 | 73.4 | 82.3 | $251,188 | $66,033 |
| 53 | Mellette County FIPS 46095 | 63.1 | 60.1 | 86.3 | 2.6 | 98.6 | 64.9 | 93 | $84,100 | $54,076 |
| 54 | Pennington County FIPS 46103 | 62 | 78.4 | 41.1 | 47.9 | 84.9 | 52.2 | 91.6 | $362,723 | $74,517 |
| 55 | Custer County FIPS 46033 | 60.2 | 86.9 | 23.5 | 47.7 | 76.8 | 73.4 | 83.8 | $507,260 | $84,112 |
| 56 | Roberts County FIPS 46109 | 59.4 | 72.3 | 59.8 | 3.4 | 90.7 | 75.8 | 89.4 | $227,173 | $65,130 |
| 57 | Buffalo County FIPS 46017 | 59 | 25.7 | 79.1 | - | 44.9 | 94.7 | 96.5 | $117,800 | $47,045 |
| 58 | Lyman County FIPS 46085 | 58.4 | 50 | 78.2 | 8.1 | 91.7 | 64.3 | 91 | $165,800 | $67,143 |
| 59 | Charles Mix County FIPS 46023 | 54.3 | 55.2 | 48.2 | 17.7 | 87.3 | 71.5 | 93.8 | $280,406 | $64,038 |
| 60 | Ziebach County FIPS 46137 | 53.4 | 45.2 | 85.3 | 1.6 | 50.2 | 84.4 | 89.5 | $99,600 | $53,958 |
| 61 | Dewey County FIPS 46041 | 53 | 32.3 | 88.4 | 2.2 | 92.5 | 37.7 | 94.1 | $69,600 | $54,104 |
| 62 | Bennett County FIPS 46007 | 49.8 | 44.1 | 50.2 | 0.8 | 95.4 | 71.3 | 92.9 | $224,609 | $53,750 |
| 63 | Corson County FIPS 46031 | 49.6 | 40.6 | 56.7 | 0.7 | 83.9 | 80.3 | 90.1 | $175,444 | $46,406 |
| 64 | Oglala Lakota County FIPS 46102 | 48.2 | 26.8 | 85.7 | 0.1 | 37.9 | 96 | 94.7 | $52,900 | $41,417 |
| 65 | Todd County FIPS 46121 | 46.5 | 39.3 | 87.2 | 0.1 | 45.7 | 32.4 | 95.5 | $53,900 | $42,075 |
| 66 | Jackson County FIPS 46071 | 44.6 | 44.7 | 53.3 | 2.7 | 43.5 | 85 | 91.3 | $158,433 | $35,417 |