What are the schools like in Central City, SD?

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

What is the median household income in Central City?

The median household income in Central City, SD is $58,750 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 20.0%.

What is the weather like in Central City, SD?

Central City has an average high temperature of 38.3°F in January and 81.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 31.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 183.9 inches.

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

Q: What is the crime rate in Central City, SD?

Central City has a violent crime rate of 247.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1265.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Central City, SD a Good Place to Live?

Central City is a small town of 125 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $58,750 and a 20.0% unemployment rate.

Strengths: Central City stands out for below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Central City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

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

Cost of Living

Cost of living data is based on the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for the Central City metro area.

Metric	Central City, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$118,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	N/A	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	93.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$58,750	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Central City's violent crime rate is 247.6 per 100,000 residents — 35% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

247.6 /100k

Property Crime

1265.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric	Central City, 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	10.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Central City sees average highs of 38.3°F in January and 81.7°F in July, with 31.8 inches of annual precipitation and 183.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Central City, SD
Average High — January	38.3°F
Average High — July	81.7°F
Annual Precipitation	31.8"
Annual Snowfall	183.9"

Demographics

Metric	Central City, SD	National Avg
Population	125	—
Median Age	48.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	20.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	14.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	97.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	14.4%	22.2%
65 and over	24.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lead, SD 1 mi Deadwood, SD 3 mi Crook City, SD 8 mi Mountain Plains, SD 8 mi Boulder Canyon, SD 8 mi

Central City vs Other Cities

Central City, SD vs Lead, SD Central City, SD vs Deadwood, SD Central City, SD vs Crook City, SD Central City, SD vs Mountain Plains, SD Central City, SD vs Boulder Canyon, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Central City, SD affordable or expensive?

Central City has a median home value of $118,800 and median rent of N/A/month against a median household income of $58,750.

What is the crime rate in Central City, SD?

Central City's violent crime rate is 247.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1265.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Central City?

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

Is Central City, SD a good place to live?

Central City, SD has a population of 125, a median household income of $58,750, and an unemployment rate of 20.0%. 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 Central City?

Central City averages 38.3°F in January and 81.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.8 inches with about 183.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Central City?

The population of Central City, South Dakota is 125 with a median age of 48.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Central City?

Key numbers for living in Central City: median home $118,800, median household income $58,750, crime index 63 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Central City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.