Garretson is a small town of 1,259 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $65,474
and a 6.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Garretson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Garretson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Garretson 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
Garretson's overall cost of living index is 90.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Garretson costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Garretson, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$185,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$690
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
64.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$65,474
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Garretson'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
Garretson is served primarily by Garretson School District 49-4.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Garretson, SD
National Avg
School District
Garretson School District 49-4
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
25.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Garretson sees average highs of 24.2°F in January
and 82.7°F in July,
with 29.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 45.3 inches of snow per year.
Garretson's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Garretson roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $185,900 and median rent is $690/month.
Garretson'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 Garretson are operated by Garretson School District 49-4.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1. 25.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Garretson, SD has a population of 1,259, a median household income of $65,474, and an unemployment rate of 6.6%.
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.
Garretson averages 24.2°F in January and 82.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 29.5 inches
with about 45.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Garretson, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57030.
The population of Garretson, South Dakota is 1,259 with a median age of 45.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Garretson: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $185,900, median household income $65,474, 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 Garretson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
