Dell Rapids is a small town of 3,953 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $88,958
and a 1.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Dell Rapids stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Dell Rapids is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Dell Rapids 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
Dell Rapids's overall cost of living index is 90.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Dell Rapids costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Dell Rapids, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$256,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$915
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
79.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$88,958
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Dell Rapids'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
Dell Rapids is served primarily by Dell Rapids School District 49-3.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Dell Rapids, SD
National Avg
School District
Dell Rapids School District 49-3
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
34.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Dell Rapids sees average highs of 24.2°F in January
and 82.7°F in July,
with 28.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 39.6 inches of snow per year.
Dell Rapids's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Dell Rapids roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $256,900 and median rent is $915/month.
Dell Rapids'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.
Public schools in Dell Rapids are operated by Dell Rapids School District 49-3.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1. 34.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Dell Rapids, SD has a population of 3,953, a median household income of $88,958, and an unemployment rate of 1.3%.
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.
Dell Rapids averages 24.2°F in January and 82.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.7 inches
with about 39.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Dell Rapids, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57022.
The population of Dell Rapids, South Dakota is 3,953 with a median age of 38.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Dell Rapids: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $256,900, median household income $88,958, 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 Dell Rapids side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
