What are the schools like in Howard, SD?

Howard is served primarily by Howard School District 48-3. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.5:1.

What is the median household income in Howard?

The median household income in Howard, SD is $44,798 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.0%.

What is the weather like in Howard, SD?

Howard has an average high temperature of 29.1°F in January and 87.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 26.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 35.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Howard, SD affordable or expensive?

Howard's cost of living index is 85, where 100 represents the national average. This means Howard is 15% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $81,600 and the median rent is $559 per month.

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

Crime rate data for Howard is not currently available from the FBI's reported data.

Is Howard, SD a Good Place to Live?

Howard is a small town of 930 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $44,798 . Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is 15% below the national average.

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

All Howard 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: 85.1

Howard's overall cost of living index is 85.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Howard costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.

Metric	Howard, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$81,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$559	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	71.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$44,798	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for Howard is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

Howard is served primarily by Howard School District 48-3. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Howard, SD	National Avg
School District	Howard School District 48-3	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	9.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Howard sees average highs of 29.1°F in January and 87.3°F in July, with 26.4 inches of annual precipitation and 35.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Howard, SD
Average High — January	29.1°F
Average High — July	87.3°F
Annual Precipitation	26.4"
Annual Snowfall	35.8"

Demographics

Metric	Howard, SD	National Avg
Population	930	—
Median Age	49.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.4%	18.9%
Asian	1.0%	6.3%
Under 18	18.4%	22.2%
65 and over	30.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Vilas, SD 4 mi Shannon Colony, SD 5 mi Winfred, SD 8 mi Roswell, SD 9 mi Canova, SD 9 mi

Howard vs Other Cities

Howard, SD vs Vilas, SD Howard, SD vs Shannon Colony, SD Howard, SD vs Winfred, SD Howard, SD vs Roswell, SD Howard, SD vs Canova, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Howard, SD affordable or expensive?

Howard's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average. That makes Howard roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $81,600 and median rent is $559/month.

What is the crime rate in Howard, SD?

Crime data for Howard is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.

What are the schools like in Howard?

Public schools in Howard are operated by Howard School District 48-3. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1. 9.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Howard, SD a good place to live?

Howard, SD has a population of 930, a median household income of $44,798, 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.

What is the weather like in Howard?

Howard averages 29.1°F in January and 87.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 26.4 inches with about 35.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Howard?

The population of Howard, South Dakota is 930 with a median age of 49.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Howard?

Key numbers for living in Howard: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $81,600, median household income $44,798, schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Howard side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.