What are the schools like in Bruce, SD?

School district data for Bruce is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Bruce?

The median household income in Bruce, SD is $50,833 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.6%.

What is the weather like in Bruce, SD?

Bruce has an average high temperature of 22.2°F in January and 81.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 25.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 35.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Bruce, SD affordable or expensive?

Bruce's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Bruce is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $85,000 and the median rent is $658 per month.

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

Bruce has a violent crime rate of 82.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 878.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Bruce, SD a Good Place to Live?

Bruce is a small town of 254 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $50,833 and a 1.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

Strengths: Bruce stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

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

All Bruce 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: 86.6

Bruce's overall cost of living index is 86.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bruce costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Bruce, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$85,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$658	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	83.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$50,833	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Bruce's violent crime rate is 82.7 per 100,000 residents — 78% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

82.7 /100k

Property Crime

878.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric	Bruce, SD	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	26.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Bruce sees average highs of 22.2°F in January and 81.4°F in July, with 25.4 inches of annual precipitation and 35.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Bruce, SD
Average High — January	22.2°F
Average High — July	81.4°F
Annual Precipitation	25.4"
Annual Snowfall	35.8"

Demographics

Metric	Bruce, SD	National Avg
Population	254	—
Median Age	38.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	28.3%	22.2%
65 and over	16.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Volga, SD 8 mi Estelline, SD 10 mi Brookings, SD 11 mi White, SD 12 mi Arlington, SD 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Bruce

Bruce, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57220

Bruce vs Other Cities

Bruce, SD vs Volga, SD Bruce, SD vs Estelline, SD Bruce, SD vs Brookings, SD Bruce, SD vs White, SD Bruce, SD vs Arlington, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bruce, SD affordable or expensive?

Bruce's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Bruce roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $85,000 and median rent is $658/month.

What is the crime rate in Bruce, SD?

Bruce's violent crime rate is 82.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 878.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Bruce?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Bruce, SD a good place to live?

Bruce, SD has a population of 254, a median household income of $50,833, and an unemployment rate of 1.6%. 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 Bruce?

Bruce averages 22.2°F in January and 81.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 25.4 inches with about 35.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Bruce?

Bruce, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57220.

What is the population of Bruce?

The population of Bruce, South Dakota is 254 with a median age of 38.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Bruce?

Key numbers for living in Bruce: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $85,000, median household income $50,833, crime index 30 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bruce side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.