Below Average CostVery SafeHarrisburg School District 41-2
Median Income
$89,966
household / year
Median Home Value
$253,800
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,161
gross / month
Cost of Living
90
national avg = 100
Is Harrisburg, SD a Good Place to Live?
Harrisburg is a small town of 7,157 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $89,966
and a 0.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Harrisburg stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Harrisburg is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Harrisburg 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
Harrisburg's overall cost of living index is 90.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Harrisburg costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Harrisburg, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$253,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,161
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
85.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$89,966
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Harrisburg's violent crime rate is 54.0 per 100,000 residents
— 86% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
54.0 /100k
Property Crime
521.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Harrisburg is served primarily by Harrisburg School District 41-2.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Harrisburg, SD
National Avg
School District
Harrisburg School District 41-2
—
Elementary Schools
7
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
40.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
97.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Harrisburg sees average highs of 25.3°F in January
and 83.3°F in July,
with 29.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 49.0 inches of snow per year.
Harrisburg's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Harrisburg roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $253,800 and median rent is $1,161/month.
Harrisburg's violent crime rate is 54.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 521.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Harrisburg are operated by Harrisburg School District 41-2.
The district has 7 elementary, 3 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1. 40.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Harrisburg, SD has a population of 7,157, a median household income of $89,966, and an unemployment rate of 0.8%.
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.
Harrisburg averages 25.3°F in January and 83.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 29.8 inches
with about 49.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Harrisburg, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57032.
The population of Harrisburg, South Dakota is 7,157 with a median age of 30.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Harrisburg: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $253,800, median household income $89,966, crime index 18 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Harrisburg side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.