What are the schools like in Leola, SD?

Leola is served primarily by Leola School District 44-2. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 8.5:1.

What is the median household income in Leola?

The median household income in Leola, SD is $74,531 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.5%.

What is the weather like in Leola, SD?

Leola has an average high temperature of 21.6°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 21.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 39.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Leola, SD affordable or expensive?

Leola's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Leola is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $66,600 and the median rent is $808 per month.

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

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

Is Leola, SD a Good Place to Live?

Leola is a small town of 359 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $74,531 and a 1.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Leola is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Leola 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: 87.0

Leola's overall cost of living index is 87.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Leola costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Leola, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$66,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$808	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	76.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$74,531	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

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

Schools & Education

Leola is served primarily by Leola School District 44-2. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Leola, SD	National Avg
School District	Leola School District 44-2	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	8.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Leola sees average highs of 21.6°F in January and 82.5°F in July, with 21.8 inches of annual precipitation and 39.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Leola, SD
Average High — January	21.6°F
Average High — July	82.5°F
Annual Precipitation	21.8"
Annual Snowfall	39.2"

Demographics

Metric	Leola, SD	National Avg
Population	359	—
Median Age	45.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	45.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	98.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	25.1%	22.2%
65 and over	13.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Grassland Colony, SD 8 mi Deerfield Colony, SD 9 mi Long Lake Colony, SD 10 mi Plainview Colony, SD 10 mi Wetonka, SD 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Leola

Leola, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57456

Leola vs Other Cities

Leola, SD vs Grassland Colony, SD Leola, SD vs Deerfield Colony, SD Leola, SD vs Long Lake Colony, SD Leola, SD vs Plainview Colony, SD Leola, SD vs Wetonka, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Leola, SD affordable or expensive?

Leola's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Leola roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $66,600 and median rent is $808/month.

What is the crime rate in Leola, SD?

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

What are the schools like in Leola?

Public schools in Leola are operated by Leola School District 44-2. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.5:1. 21.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Leola, SD a good place to live?

Leola, SD has a population of 359, a median household income of $74,531, and an unemployment rate of 1.5%. 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 Leola?

Leola averages 21.6°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 21.8 inches with about 39.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Leola?

Leola, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57456.

What is the population of Leola?

The population of Leola, South Dakota is 359 with a median age of 45.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Leola?

Key numbers for living in Leola: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $66,600, median household income $74,531, crime index 14 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Leola side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.