Hill City is a small town of 630 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $76,500
.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Hill City 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 Hill City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Hill City 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
Hill City's overall cost of living index is 90.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Hill City costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Hill City, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$224,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$663
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
82.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$76,500
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Hill City's violent crime rate is 656.6 per 100,000 residents
— 73% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
656.6 /100k
Property Crime
3129.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Hill City is served primarily by Hill City School District 51-2.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Hill City, SD
National Avg
School District
Hill City School District 51-2
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
29.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Hill City sees average highs of 40.5°F in January
and 82.8°F in July,
with 22.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 66.6 inches of snow per year.
Hill City's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Hill City roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $224,500 and median rent is $663/month.
Hill City's violent crime rate is 656.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3129.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Hill City are operated by Hill City School District 51-2.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. 29.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Hill City, SD has a population of 630, a median household income of $76,500, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%.
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.
Hill City averages 40.5°F in January and 82.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 22.4 inches
with about 66.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Hill City, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57745.
The population of Hill City, South Dakota is 630 with a median age of 40.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Hill City: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $224,500, median household income $76,500, crime index 163 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hill City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
