Very AffordableVery SafeAndes Central School District 11-1
Lake Andes, South Dakota downtown 3 · Ammodramus / CC0Charles Mix County courthouse from NW 2 long · Ammodramus / CC0Main Street, Lake Andes - NARA - 285904 · Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided / Public domainSt. Peter's Episcopal Church (Lake Andes) from NW · Ammodramus / CC0
Lake Andes is a small town of 945 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $46,250
and a 7.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is
16% below the national average.
Strengths:
Lake Andes stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Lake Andes is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Lake Andes 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: 84.2
Lake Andes's overall cost of living index is 84.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Lake Andes costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.
Metric
Lake Andes, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$46,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$715
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
65.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$46,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Lake Andes's violent crime rate is 183.0 per 100,000 residents
— 52% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
183.0 /100k
Property Crime
914.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Lake Andes is served primarily by Andes Central School District 11-1.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Lake Andes, SD
National Avg
School District
Andes Central School District 11-1
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
20.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
76.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Lake Andes sees average highs of 32.2°F in January
and 87.4°F in July,
with 24.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 31.3 inches of snow per year.
Lake Andes's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Lake Andes roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $46,300 and median rent is $715/month.
Lake Andes's violent crime rate is 183.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 914.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Lake Andes are operated by Andes Central School District 11-1.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.6:1. 20.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Lake Andes, SD has a population of 945, a median household income of $46,250, and an unemployment rate of 7.7%.
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.
Lake Andes averages 32.2°F in January and 87.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 24.4 inches
with about 31.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Lake Andes, South Dakota is 945 with a median age of 30.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Lake Andes: cost of living index 84 (100 = US average), median home $46,300, median household income $46,250, crime index 46 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lake Andes side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
_from_NW.jpg)