Below Average CostHigh CrimeLead-Deadwood School District 40-1
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Deadwood is a small town of 1,423 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $50,478
and a 4.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Deadwood stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Deadwood is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Deadwood 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: 91.6
Deadwood's overall cost of living index is 91.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Deadwood costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Deadwood, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$216,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$692
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
50.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$50,478
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Deadwood's violent crime rate is 990.8 per 100,000 residents
— 161% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
990.8 /100k
Property Crime
2406.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Deadwood is served primarily by Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Deadwood, SD
National Avg
School District
Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
26.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Deadwood sees average highs of 38.0°F in January
and 82.9°F in July,
with 31.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 183.9 inches of snow per year.
Deadwood's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Deadwood roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $216,100 and median rent is $692/month.
Deadwood's violent crime rate is 990.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2406.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Deadwood are operated by Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.6:1. 26.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Deadwood, SD has a population of 1,423, a median household income of $50,478, 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.
Deadwood averages 38.0°F in January and 82.9°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).
Deadwood, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57732.
The population of Deadwood, South Dakota is 1,423 with a median age of 50.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Deadwood: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $216,100, median household income $50,478, crime index 202 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Deadwood side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
