What are the schools like in Burke, SD?

Burke is served primarily by Burke School District 26-2. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.9:1.

What is the median household income in Burke?

The median household income in Burke, SD is $37,750 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.6%.

What is the weather like in Burke, SD?

Burke has an average high temperature of 31.6°F in January and 86.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 26.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 45.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Burke, SD affordable or expensive?

Burke's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Burke is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $107,000 and the median rent is $498 per month.

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

Burke has a violent crime rate of 173.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 173.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Burke, SD a Good Place to Live?

Burke is a small town of 685 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $37,750 and a 4.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

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

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

All Burke 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: 85.5

Burke's overall cost of living index is 85.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Burke costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Burke, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$107,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$498	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	61.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$37,750	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Burke's violent crime rate is 173.3 per 100,000 residents — 54% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

173.3 /100k

Property Crime

173.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Burke is served primarily by Burke School District 26-2. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Burke, SD	National Avg
School District	Burke School District 26-2	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	15.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Burke sees average highs of 31.6°F in January and 86.6°F in July, with 26.0 inches of annual precipitation and 45.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Burke, SD
Average High — January	31.6°F
Average High — July	86.6°F
Annual Precipitation	26.0"
Annual Snowfall	45.0"

Demographics

Metric	Burke, SD	National Avg
Population	685	—
Median Age	38.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	12.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	82.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	25.5%	22.2%
65 and over	25.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Herrick, SD 7 mi Gregory, SD 7 mi St. Charles, SD 12 mi Dallas, SD 12 mi Naper, NE 18 mi

ZIP Codes in Burke

Burke, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57523

Burke vs Other Cities

Burke, SD vs Herrick, SD Burke, SD vs Gregory, SD Burke, SD vs St. Charles, SD Burke, SD vs Dallas, SD Burke, SD vs Naper, NE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Burke, SD affordable or expensive?

Burke's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Burke roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $107,000 and median rent is $498/month.

What is the crime rate in Burke, SD?

Burke's violent crime rate is 173.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 173.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Burke?

Public schools in Burke are operated by Burke School District 26-2. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.9:1. 15.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Burke, SD a good place to live?

Burke, SD has a population of 685, a median household income of $37,750, and an unemployment rate of 4.6%. 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 Burke?

Burke averages 31.6°F in January and 86.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 26.0 inches with about 45.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Burke?

Burke, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57523.

What is the population of Burke?

The population of Burke, South Dakota is 685 with a median age of 38.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Burke?

Key numbers for living in Burke: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $107,000, median household income $37,750, crime index 31 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Burke side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.