What are the schools like in Arlington, SD?

Arlington is served primarily by Arlington School District 38-1. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.2:1.

What is the median household income in Arlington?

The median household income in Arlington, SD is $60,729 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.9%.

What is the weather like in Arlington, SD?

Arlington has an average high temperature of 23.7°F in January and 82.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 26.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 35.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Arlington, SD affordable or expensive?

Arlington's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Arlington is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $130,300 and the median rent is $843 per month.

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

Crime rate data for Arlington is not currently available from the FBI's reported data.

Is Arlington, SD a Good Place to Live?

Arlington is a small town of 846 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $60,729 and a 0.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Arlington 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 Arlington is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Arlington 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: 90.6

Arlington's overall cost of living index is 90.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Arlington costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Arlington, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$130,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$843	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	69.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$60,729	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for Arlington is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

Arlington is served primarily by Arlington School District 38-1. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Arlington, SD	National Avg
School District	Arlington School District 38-1	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	25.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Arlington sees average highs of 23.7°F in January and 82.7°F in July, with 26.2 inches of annual precipitation and 35.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Arlington, SD
Average High — January	23.7°F
Average High — July	82.7°F
Annual Precipitation	26.2"
Annual Snowfall	35.8"

Demographics

Metric	Arlington, SD	National Avg
Population	846	—
Median Age	37.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	99.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	25.7%	22.2%
65 and over	19.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hetland, SD 5 mi Spring Lake Colony, SD 9 mi Badger, SD 9 mi Sinai, SD 9 mi Volga, SD 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Arlington

Arlington, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57212

Arlington vs Other Cities

Arlington, SD vs Hetland, SD Arlington, SD vs Spring Lake Colony, SD Arlington, SD vs Badger, SD Arlington, SD vs Sinai, SD Arlington, SD vs Volga, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Arlington, SD affordable or expensive?

Arlington's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Arlington roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $130,300 and median rent is $843/month.

What is the crime rate in Arlington, SD?

Crime data for Arlington is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.

What are the schools like in Arlington?

Public schools in Arlington are operated by Arlington School District 38-1. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1. 25.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Arlington, SD a good place to live?

Arlington, SD has a population of 846, a median household income of $60,729, and an unemployment rate of 0.9%. 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 Arlington?

Arlington averages 23.7°F in January and 82.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 26.2 inches with about 35.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Arlington?

Arlington, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57212.

What is the population of Arlington?

The population of Arlington, South Dakota is 846 with a median age of 37.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Arlington?

Key numbers for living in Arlington: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $130,300, median household income $60,729, schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Arlington side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.