What are the schools like in Martin, SD?

Martin is served primarily by Bennett County School District 03-1. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.0:1.

What is the median household income in Martin?

The median household income in Martin, SD is $47,692 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.8%.

What is the weather like in Martin, SD?

Martin has an average high temperature of 34.9°F in January and 87.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 20.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 48.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Martin, SD affordable or expensive?

Martin's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Martin is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $85,000 and the median rent is $798 per month.

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

Martin has a violent crime rate of 940.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 4388.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Martin, SD a Good Place to Live?

Martin is a small town of 998 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $47,692 and a 3.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Martin is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Martin 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: 88.1

Martin's overall cost of living index is 88.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Martin costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Martin, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$85,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$798	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	71.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$47,692	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Martin's violent crime rate is 940.4 per 100,000 residents — 147% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

940.4 /100k

Property Crime

4388.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Martin is served primarily by Bennett County School District 03-1. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Martin, SD	National Avg
School District	Bennett County School District 03-1	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	35.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Martin sees average highs of 34.9°F in January and 87.3°F in July, with 20.7 inches of annual precipitation and 48.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Martin, SD
Average High — January	34.9°F
Average High — July	87.3°F
Annual Precipitation	20.7"
Annual Snowfall	48.4"

Demographics

Metric	Martin, SD	National Avg
Population	998	—
Median Age	34.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	8.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	58.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.5%	18.9%
Asian	4.5%	6.3%
Under 18	35.3%	22.2%
65 and over	17.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Allen, SD 12 mi Merriman, NE 17 mi Batesland, SD 19 mi Wanblee, SD 28 mi Kyle, SD 28 mi

ZIP Codes in Martin

Martin, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57551

Martin vs Other Cities

Martin, SD vs Allen, SD Martin, SD vs Merriman, NE Martin, SD vs Batesland, SD Martin, SD vs Wanblee, SD Martin, SD vs Kyle, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Martin, SD affordable or expensive?

Martin's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Martin roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $85,000 and median rent is $798/month.

What is the crime rate in Martin, SD?

Martin's violent crime rate is 940.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4388.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Martin?

Public schools in Martin are operated by Bennett County School District 03-1. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.0:1. 35.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Martin, SD a good place to live?

Martin, SD has a population of 998, a median household income of $47,692, and an unemployment rate of 3.8%. 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 Martin?

Martin averages 34.9°F in January and 87.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 20.7 inches with about 48.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Martin?

Martin, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57551.

What is the population of Martin?

The population of Martin, South Dakota is 998 with a median age of 34.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Martin?

Key numbers for living in Martin: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $85,000, median household income $47,692, crime index 232 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Martin side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.