What are the schools like in Chamberlain, SD?

Chamberlain is served primarily by Chamberlain School District 07-1. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.6:1.

What is the median household income in Chamberlain?

The median household income in Chamberlain, SD is $59,375 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.5%.

What is the weather like in Chamberlain, SD?

Chamberlain has an average high temperature of 30.6°F in January and 87.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 20.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 43.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Chamberlain, SD affordable or expensive?

Chamberlain's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Chamberlain is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $174,700 and the median rent is $613 per month.

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

Chamberlain has a violent crime rate of 440.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1561.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Chamberlain, SD a Good Place to Live?

Chamberlain is a small town of 2,538 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $59,375 and a 3.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

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

All Chamberlain 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: 89.6

Chamberlain's overall cost of living index is 89.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Chamberlain costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Chamberlain, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$174,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$613	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	55.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$59,375	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Chamberlain's violent crime rate is 440.5 per 100,000 residents — 16% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

440.5 /100k

Property Crime

1561.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Chamberlain is served primarily by Chamberlain School District 07-1. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Chamberlain, SD	National Avg
School District	Chamberlain School District 07-1	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	29.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	83.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Chamberlain sees average highs of 30.6°F in January and 87.7°F in July, with 20.4 inches of annual precipitation and 43.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Chamberlain, SD
Average High — January	30.6°F
Average High — July	87.7°F
Annual Precipitation	20.4"
Annual Snowfall	43.3"

Demographics

Metric	Chamberlain, SD	National Avg
Population	2,538	—
Median Age	40.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	9.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	67.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	23.7%	22.2%
65 and over	19.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Oacoma, SD 2 mi Pukwana, SD 7 mi Reliance, SD 15 mi Ola, SD 15 mi Fort Thompson, SD 18 mi

ZIP Codes in Chamberlain

Chamberlain, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57325

Chamberlain vs Other Cities

Chamberlain, SD vs Oacoma, SD Chamberlain, SD vs Pukwana, SD Chamberlain, SD vs Reliance, SD Chamberlain, SD vs Ola, SD Chamberlain, SD vs Fort Thompson, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chamberlain, SD affordable or expensive?

Chamberlain's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Chamberlain roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $174,700 and median rent is $613/month.

What is the crime rate in Chamberlain, SD?

Chamberlain's violent crime rate is 440.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1561.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Chamberlain?

Public schools in Chamberlain are operated by Chamberlain School District 07-1. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.6:1. 29.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Chamberlain, SD a good place to live?

Chamberlain, SD has a population of 2,538, a median household income of $59,375, and an unemployment rate of 3.5%. 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 Chamberlain?

Chamberlain averages 30.6°F in January and 87.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 20.4 inches with about 43.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Chamberlain?

Chamberlain, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57325.

What is the population of Chamberlain?

The population of Chamberlain, South Dakota is 2,538 with a median age of 40.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Chamberlain?

Key numbers for living in Chamberlain: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $174,700, median household income $59,375, crime index 99 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Chamberlain side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.