What are the schools like in Lead, SD?

Lead is served primarily by Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9.6:1.

What is the median household income in Lead?

The median household income in Lead, SD is $54,555 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 Lead, SD?

Lead has an average high temperature of 38.3°F in January and 81.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 31.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 183.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Lead, SD affordable or expensive?

Lead's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Lead is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $169,800 and the median rent is $836 per month.

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

Lead has a violent crime rate of 163.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 392.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Lead, SD a Good Place to Live?

Lead is a small town of 2,993 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $54,555 . Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Lead stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.

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

All Lead 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: 91.9

Lead's overall cost of living index is 91.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lead costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Lead, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$169,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$836	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	72.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$54,555	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Lead's violent crime rate is 163.7 per 100,000 residents — 57% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

163.7 /100k

Property Crime

392.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Lead is served primarily by Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Lead, SD	National Avg
School District	Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	9.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lead sees average highs of 38.3°F in January and 81.7°F in July, with 31.8 inches of annual precipitation and 183.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Lead, SD
Average High — January	38.3°F
Average High — July	81.7°F
Annual Precipitation	31.8"
Annual Snowfall	183.9"

Demographics

Metric	Lead, SD	National Avg
Population	2,993	—
Median Age	45.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	16.0%	22.2%
65 and over	26.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Central City, SD 1 mi Deadwood, SD 3 mi Crook City, SD 8 mi Boulder Canyon, SD 9 mi Mountain Plains, SD 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Lead

Lead, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57754

Lead vs Other Cities

Lead, SD vs Central City, SD Lead, SD vs Deadwood, SD Lead, SD vs Crook City, SD Lead, SD vs Boulder Canyon, SD Lead, SD vs Mountain Plains, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lead, SD affordable or expensive?

Lead's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Lead roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $169,800 and median rent is $836/month.

What is the crime rate in Lead, SD?

Lead's violent crime rate is 163.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 392.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Lead?

Public schools in Lead are operated by Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.6:1. 21.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Lead, SD a good place to live?

Lead, SD has a population of 2,993, a median household income of $54,555, 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 Lead?

Lead averages 38.3°F in January and 81.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.8 inches with about 183.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Lead?

Lead, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57754.

What is the population of Lead?

The population of Lead, South Dakota is 2,993 with a median age of 45.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Lead?

Key numbers for living in Lead: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $169,800, median household income $54,555, crime index 33 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lead side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.