Below Average CostVery SafeHot Springs School District 23-2
Hot springs south dakota welcome sign · devriesm / CC BY 2.0South Dakota - Dickinson through Hot Springs - NARA - 68148928 (cropped) · Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided / Public domainDetroit Photographic Company (0784) · Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domainEvans Plunge, Hot Springs, South Dakota · Runner1928 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Hot Springs is a small town of 3,465 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $47,337
and a 3.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Hot Springs stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Hot Springs is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Hot Springs 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: 90.9
Hot Springs's overall cost of living index is 90.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Hot Springs costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Hot Springs, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$145,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$813
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
63.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$47,337
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Hot Springs's violent crime rate is 189.9 per 100,000 residents
— 50% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
189.9 /100k
Property Crime
27.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Hot Springs is served primarily by Hot Springs School District 23-2.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Hot Springs, SD
National Avg
School District
Hot Springs School District 23-2
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
17.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Hot Springs sees average highs of 40.4°F in January
and 88.5°F in July,
with 18.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 32.0 inches of snow per year.
Hot Springs's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Hot Springs roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $145,900 and median rent is $813/month.
Hot Springs's violent crime rate is 189.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 27.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Hot Springs are operated by Hot Springs School District 23-2.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1. 17.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Hot Springs, SD has a population of 3,465, a median household income of $47,337, and an unemployment rate of 3.1%.
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.
Hot Springs averages 40.4°F in January and 88.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 18.6 inches
with about 32.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Hot Springs, South Dakota is 3,465 with a median age of 56.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Hot Springs: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $145,900, median household income $47,337, crime index 31 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hot Springs side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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