What are the schools like in Colton, SD?

Colton is served primarily by Tri-Valley School District 49-6. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.1:1.

What is the median household income in Colton?

The median household income in Colton, SD is $77,804 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.1%.

What is the weather like in Colton, SD?

Colton has an average high temperature of 25.1°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 27.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 39.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Colton, SD affordable or expensive?

Colton's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Colton is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $159,500 and the median rent is $680 per month.

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

Colton has a violent crime rate of 608.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3339.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Colton, SD a Good Place to Live?

Colton is a small town of 769 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $77,804 and a 5.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

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

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

All Colton 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: 90.3

Colton's overall cost of living index is 90.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Colton costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Colton, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$159,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$680	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	73.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$77,804	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Colton's violent crime rate is 608.4 per 100,000 residents — 60% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

608.4 /100k

Property Crime

3339.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Colton is served primarily by Tri-Valley School District 49-6. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Colton, SD	National Avg
School District	Tri-Valley School District 49-6	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	14.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Colton sees average highs of 25.1°F in January and 84.3°F in July, with 27.9 inches of annual precipitation and 39.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Colton, SD
Average High — January	25.1°F
Average High — July	84.3°F
Annual Precipitation	27.9"
Annual Snowfall	39.6"

Demographics

Metric	Colton, SD	National Avg
Population	769	—
Median Age	39.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	28.6%	22.2%
65 and over	17.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lyons, SD 5 mi Chester, SD 8 mi Brant Lake South, SD 9 mi Baltic, SD 10 mi Brant Lake, SD 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Colton

Colton, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57018

Colton vs Other Cities

Colton, SD vs Lyons, SD Colton, SD vs Chester, SD Colton, SD vs Brant Lake South, SD Colton, SD vs Baltic, SD Colton, SD vs Brant Lake, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Colton, SD affordable or expensive?

Colton's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Colton roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $159,500 and median rent is $680/month.

What is the crime rate in Colton, SD?

Colton's violent crime rate is 608.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3339.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Colton?

Public schools in Colton are operated by Tri-Valley School District 49-6. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1. 14.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Colton, SD a good place to live?

Colton, SD has a population of 769, a median household income of $77,804, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%. 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 Colton?

Colton averages 25.1°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 27.9 inches with about 39.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Colton?

Colton, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57018.

What is the population of Colton?

The population of Colton, South Dakota is 769 with a median age of 39.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Colton?

Key numbers for living in Colton: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $159,500, median household income $77,804, crime index 160 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Colton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.