What are the schools like in Dakota Dunes, SD?

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

What is the median household income in Dakota Dunes?

The median household income in Dakota Dunes, SD is $127,692 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.8%.

What is the weather like in Dakota Dunes, SD?

Dakota Dunes has an average high temperature of 29.7°F in January and 85.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 32.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 36.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Dakota Dunes, SD affordable or expensive?

Dakota Dunes's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Dakota Dunes is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $437,200 and the median rent is $1,188 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Dakota Dunes, SD?

Dakota Dunes has a violent crime rate of 87.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 803.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Dakota Dunes, SD a Good Place to Live?

Dakota Dunes is a small town of 3,997 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $127,692 and a 0.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Dakota Dunes stands out for an affordable cost of living, a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Dakota Dunes is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Dakota Dunes 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: 88.1

Dakota Dunes's overall cost of living index is 88.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Dakota Dunes costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Dakota Dunes, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$437,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,188	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	63.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$127,692	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Dakota Dunes's violent crime rate is 87.9 per 100,000 residents — 77% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

87.9 /100k

Property Crime

803.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric	Dakota Dunes, 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	57.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Dakota Dunes sees average highs of 29.7°F in January and 85.7°F in July, with 32.3 inches of annual precipitation and 36.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Dakota Dunes, SD
Average High — January	29.7°F
Average High — July	85.7°F
Annual Precipitation	32.3"
Annual Snowfall	36.0"

Demographics

Metric	Dakota Dunes, SD	National Avg
Population	3,997	—
Median Age	41.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	11.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	86.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.0%	18.9%
Asian	5.2%	6.3%
Under 18	25.5%	22.2%
65 and over	17.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

North Sioux City, SD 3 mi South Sioux City, NE 4 mi Sioux City, IA 5 mi Jackson, NE 5 mi Dakota City, NE 6 mi

Dakota Dunes vs Other Cities

Dakota Dunes, SD vs North Sioux City, SD Dakota Dunes, SD vs South Sioux City, NE Dakota Dunes, SD vs Sioux City, IA Dakota Dunes, SD vs Jackson, NE Dakota Dunes, SD vs Dakota City, NE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dakota Dunes, SD affordable or expensive?

Dakota Dunes's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Dakota Dunes roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $437,200 and median rent is $1,188/month.

What is the crime rate in Dakota Dunes, SD?

Dakota Dunes's violent crime rate is 87.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 803.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Dakota Dunes?

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

Is Dakota Dunes, SD a good place to live?

Dakota Dunes, SD has a population of 3,997, a median household income of $127,692, and an unemployment rate of 0.8%. 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 Dakota Dunes?

Dakota Dunes averages 29.7°F in January and 85.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 32.3 inches with about 36.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Dakota Dunes?

The population of Dakota Dunes, South Dakota is 3,997 with a median age of 41.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Dakota Dunes?

Key numbers for living in Dakota Dunes: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $437,200, median household income $127,692, crime index 29 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dakota Dunes side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.