Very AffordableVery SafeEstelline School District 28-2
Median Income
$67,426
household / year
Median Home Value
$132,600
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$647
gross / month
Cost of Living
89
national avg = 100
Is Estelline, SD a Good Place to Live?
Estelline is a small town of 952 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $67,426
and a 2.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Estelline stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Estelline is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Estelline 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: 88.6
Estelline's overall cost of living index is 88.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Estelline costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Estelline, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$132,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$647
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
81.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$67,426
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Estelline's violent crime rate is 48.7 per 100,000 residents
— 87% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
48.7 /100k
Property Crime
389.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Estelline is served primarily by Estelline School District 28-2.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Estelline, SD
National Avg
School District
Estelline School District 28-2
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
22.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Estelline sees average highs of 20.4°F in January
and 80.6°F in July,
with 26.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 60.7 inches of snow per year.
Estelline's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Estelline roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $132,600 and median rent is $647/month.
Estelline's violent crime rate is 48.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 389.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Estelline are operated by Estelline School District 28-2.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1. 22.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Estelline, SD has a population of 952, a median household income of $67,426, and an unemployment rate of 2.5%.
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.
Estelline averages 20.4°F in January and 80.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 26.0 inches
with about 60.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Estelline, South Dakota is 952 with a median age of 35.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Estelline: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $132,600, median household income $67,426, crime index 15 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Estelline side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.