What are the schools like in Freeman, SD?

Freeman is served primarily by Freeman School District 33-1. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.9:1.

What is the median household income in Freeman?

The median household income in Freeman, SD is $61,719 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.6%.

What is the weather like in Freeman, SD?

Freeman has an average high temperature of 28.4°F in January and 85.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 26.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 40.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Freeman, SD affordable or expensive?

Freeman's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Freeman is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $158,900 and the median rent is $675 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Freeman, SD?

Freeman has a violent crime rate of 13.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 82.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Freeman, SD a Good Place to Live?

Freeman is a small town of 1,580 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $61,719 and a 2.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Freeman 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 Freeman is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Freeman 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: 89.9

Freeman's overall cost of living index is 89.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Freeman costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Freeman, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$158,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$675	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	71.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$61,719	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Freeman's violent crime rate is 13.7 per 100,000 residents — 96% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

13.7 /100k

Property Crime

82.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Freeman is served primarily by Freeman School District 33-1. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Freeman, SD	National Avg
School District	Freeman School District 33-1	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Freeman sees average highs of 28.4°F in January and 85.8°F in July, with 26.5 inches of annual precipitation and 40.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Freeman, SD
Average High — January	28.4°F
Average High — July	85.8°F
Annual Precipitation	26.5"
Annual Snowfall	40.9"

Demographics

Metric	Freeman, SD	National Avg
Population	1,580	—
Median Age	40.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	79.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	17.3%	18.9%
Asian	1.7%	6.3%
Under 18	34.1%	22.2%
65 and over	22.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Wolf Creek Colony, SD 9 mi Marion, SD 10 mi Dolton, SD 10 mi Menno, SD 11 mi Tschetter Colony, SD 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Freeman

Freeman, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57029

Freeman vs Other Cities

Freeman, SD vs Wolf Creek Colony, SD Freeman, SD vs Marion, SD Freeman, SD vs Dolton, SD Freeman, SD vs Menno, SD Freeman, SD vs Tschetter Colony, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Freeman, SD affordable or expensive?

Freeman's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Freeman roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $158,900 and median rent is $675/month.

What is the crime rate in Freeman, SD?

Freeman's violent crime rate is 13.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 82.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Freeman?

Public schools in Freeman are operated by Freeman School District 33-1. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1. 20.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Freeman, SD a good place to live?

Freeman, SD has a population of 1,580, a median household income of $61,719, and an unemployment rate of 2.6%. 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.

What is the weather like in Freeman?

Freeman averages 28.4°F in January and 85.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 26.5 inches with about 40.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Freeman?

Freeman, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57029.

What is the population of Freeman?

The population of Freeman, South Dakota is 1,580 with a median age of 40.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Freeman?

Key numbers for living in Freeman: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $158,900, median household income $61,719, crime index 4 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Freeman side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.