What are the schools like in Kennebec, SD?

Kennebec is served primarily by Lyman School District 42-1. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9.7:1.

What is the median household income in Kennebec?

The median household income in Kennebec, SD is $70,972 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.1%.

What is the weather like in Kennebec, SD?

Kennebec has an average high temperature of 31.6°F in January and 89.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 20.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 39.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Kennebec, SD affordable or expensive?

Kennebec's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Kennebec is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $131,400 and the median rent is $872 per month.

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

Kennebec has a violent crime rate of 79.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 529.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Kennebec, SD a Good Place to Live?

Kennebec is a small town of 369 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $70,972 and a 3.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Kennebec stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Kennebec is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Kennebec 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: 91.0

Kennebec's overall cost of living index is 91.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Kennebec costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Kennebec, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$131,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$872	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	87.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$70,972	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Kennebec's violent crime rate is 79.3 per 100,000 residents — 79% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

79.3 /100k

Property Crime

529.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Kennebec is served primarily by Lyman School District 42-1. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Kennebec, SD	National Avg
School District	Lyman School District 42-1	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	9.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Kennebec sees average highs of 31.6°F in January and 89.7°F in July, with 20.8 inches of annual precipitation and 39.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Kennebec, SD
Average High — January	31.6°F
Average High — July	89.7°F
Annual Precipitation	20.8"
Annual Snowfall	39.6"

Demographics

Metric	Kennebec, SD	National Avg
Population	369	—
Median Age	30.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	9.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	31.4%	22.2%
65 and over	18.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Presho, SD 10 mi Reliance, SD 13 mi West Brule, SD 16 mi Lower Brule, SD 18 mi Vivian, SD 22 mi

ZIP Codes in Kennebec

Kennebec, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57544

Kennebec vs Other Cities

Kennebec, SD vs Presho, SD Kennebec, SD vs Reliance, SD Kennebec, SD vs West Brule, SD Kennebec, SD vs Lower Brule, SD Kennebec, SD vs Vivian, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kennebec, SD affordable or expensive?

Kennebec's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Kennebec roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $131,400 and median rent is $872/month.

What is the crime rate in Kennebec, SD?

Kennebec's violent crime rate is 79.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 529.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Kennebec?

Public schools in Kennebec are operated by Lyman School District 42-1. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.7:1. 22.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Kennebec, SD a good place to live?

Kennebec, SD has a population of 369, a median household income of $70,972, 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.

What is the weather like in Kennebec?

Kennebec averages 31.6°F in January and 89.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 20.8 inches with about 39.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Kennebec?

Kennebec, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57544.

What is the population of Kennebec?

The population of Kennebec, South Dakota is 369 with a median age of 30.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Kennebec?

Key numbers for living in Kennebec: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $131,400, median household income $70,972, crime index 23 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Kennebec side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.