What are the schools like in Fort Thompson, SD?

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

What is the median household income in Fort Thompson?

The median household income in Fort Thompson, SD is $27,813 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 19.0%.

What is the weather like in Fort Thompson, SD?

Fort Thompson has an average high temperature of 29.4°F in January and 87.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 20.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 18.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Fort Thompson, SD affordable or expensive?

Fort Thompson's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Fort Thompson is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $117,300 and the median rent is $535 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Fort Thompson, SD?

Crime rate data for Fort Thompson is not currently available from the FBI's reported data.

Is Fort Thompson, SD a Good Place to Live?

Fort Thompson is a small town of 1,157 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $27,813 and a 19.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

Strengths: Fort Thompson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

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

All Fort Thompson 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: 86.5

Fort Thompson's overall cost of living index is 86.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Fort Thompson costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Fort Thompson, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$117,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$535	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	38.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$27,813	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for Fort Thompson is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

Metric	Fort Thompson, 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	5.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	79.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Fort Thompson sees average highs of 29.4°F in January and 87.5°F in July, with 20.1 inches of annual precipitation and 18.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Fort Thompson, SD
Average High — January	29.4°F
Average High — July	87.5°F
Annual Precipitation	20.1"
Annual Snowfall	18.9"

Demographics

Metric	Fort Thompson, SD	National Avg
Population	1,157	—
Median Age	24.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	19.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	13.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	2.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	36.0%	22.2%
65 and over	6.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lower Brule, SD 9 mi West Brule, SD 12 mi Stephan, SD 14 mi Reliance, SD 16 mi Oacoma, SD 17 mi

ZIP Codes in Fort Thompson

Fort Thompson, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57339

Fort Thompson vs Other Cities

Fort Thompson, SD vs Lower Brule, SD Fort Thompson, SD vs West Brule, SD Fort Thompson, SD vs Stephan, SD Fort Thompson, SD vs Reliance, SD Fort Thompson, SD vs Oacoma, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fort Thompson, SD affordable or expensive?

Fort Thompson's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Fort Thompson roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $117,300 and median rent is $535/month.

What is the crime rate in Fort Thompson, SD?

Crime data for Fort Thompson is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.

What are the schools like in Fort Thompson?

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

Is Fort Thompson, SD a good place to live?

Fort Thompson, SD has a population of 1,157, a median household income of $27,813, and an unemployment rate of 19.0%. 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 Fort Thompson?

Fort Thompson averages 29.4°F in January and 87.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 20.1 inches with about 18.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Fort Thompson?

Fort Thompson, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57339.

What is the population of Fort Thompson?

The population of Fort Thompson, South Dakota is 1,157 with a median age of 24.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Fort Thompson?

Key numbers for living in Fort Thompson: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $117,300, median household income $27,813. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fort Thompson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.