Humboldt is a small town of 619 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $90,250
and a 1.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Humboldt stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Humboldt is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Humboldt 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
Humboldt's overall cost of living index is 90.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Humboldt costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Humboldt, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$180,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$679
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
84.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$90,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Humboldt'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
Humboldt is served primarily by West Central School District 49-7.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Humboldt, SD
National Avg
School District
West Central School District 49-7
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
31.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
97.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Humboldt sees average highs of 23.6°F in January
and 83.3°F in July,
with 28.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 31.0 inches of snow per year.
Humboldt's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Humboldt roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $180,800 and median rent is $679/month.
Humboldt'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 Humboldt are operated by West Central School District 49-7.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1. 31.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Humboldt, SD has a population of 619, a median household income of $90,250, and an unemployment rate of 1.1%.
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.
Humboldt averages 23.6°F in January and 83.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.1 inches
with about 31.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Humboldt, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57035.
The population of Humboldt, South Dakota is 619 with a median age of 33.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Humboldt: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $180,800, median household income $90,250, 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 Humboldt side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
