What are the schools like in Alcester, SD?

Alcester is served primarily by Alcester-Hudson School District 61-1. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.3:1.

What is the median household income in Alcester?

The median household income in Alcester, SD is $57,813 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.5%.

What is the weather like in Alcester, SD?

Alcester has an average high temperature of 26.9°F in January and 84.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 29.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 30.6 inches.

Alcester, SD Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Alcester, SD affordable or expensive?

Alcester's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Alcester is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $99,100 and the median rent is $679 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Alcester, SD?

Alcester has a violent crime rate of 87.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 803.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Alcester, SD a Good Place to Live?

Alcester is a small town of 973 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $57,813 and a 0.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Alcester stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Alcester is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Alcester city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 88.1

Alcester's overall cost of living index is 88.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Alcester costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Alcester, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$99,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$679	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	74.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$57,813	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Alcester's violent crime rate is 87.9 per 100,000 residents — 77% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

87.9 /100k

Property Crime

803.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Alcester is served primarily by Alcester-Hudson School District 61-1. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Alcester, SD	National Avg
School District	Alcester-Hudson School District 61-1	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	18.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Alcester sees average highs of 26.9°F in January and 84.9°F in July, with 29.9 inches of annual precipitation and 30.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Alcester, SD
Average High — January	26.9°F
Average High — July	84.9°F
Annual Precipitation	29.9"
Annual Snowfall	30.6"

Demographics

Metric	Alcester, SD	National Avg
Population	973	—
Median Age	50.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	15.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	83.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	12.3%	18.9%
Asian	1.0%	6.3%
Under 18	25.0%	22.2%
65 and over	36.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hawarden, IA 7 mi Beresford, SD 9 mi Chatsworth, IA 10 mi Hudson, SD 11 mi Akron, IA 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Alcester

Alcester, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57001

Alcester vs Other Cities

Alcester, SD vs Hawarden, IA Alcester, SD vs Beresford, SD Alcester, SD vs Chatsworth, IA Alcester, SD vs Hudson, SD Alcester, SD vs Akron, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alcester, SD affordable or expensive?

Alcester's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Alcester roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $99,100 and median rent is $679/month.

What is the crime rate in Alcester, SD?

Alcester's violent crime rate is 87.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 803.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Alcester?

Public schools in Alcester are operated by Alcester-Hudson School District 61-1. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1. 18.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Alcester, SD a good place to live?

Alcester, SD has a population of 973, a median household income of $57,813, and an unemployment rate of 0.5%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Alcester?

Alcester averages 26.9°F in January and 84.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 29.9 inches with about 30.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Alcester?

Alcester, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57001.

What is the population of Alcester?

The population of Alcester, South Dakota is 973 with a median age of 50.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Alcester?

Key numbers for living in Alcester: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $99,100, median household income $57,813, crime index 29 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Alcester side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.