Very AffordableVery SafeNorthwestern Area School District 56-7
Median Income
$71,563
household / year
Median Home Value
$115,000
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$644
gross / month
Cost of Living
88
national avg = 100
Is Mellette, SD a Good Place to Live?
Mellette is a small town of 176 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $71,563
.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Mellette stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Mellette is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Mellette 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: 87.9
Mellette's overall cost of living index is 87.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Mellette costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Mellette, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$115,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$644
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
83.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$71,563
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Mellette's violent crime rate is 62.7 per 100,000 residents
— 84% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
62.7 /100k
Property Crime
329.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Mellette is served primarily by Northwestern Area School District 56-7.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Mellette, SD
National Avg
School District
Northwestern Area School District 56-7
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
98.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Mellette sees average highs of 22.1°F in January
and 83.7°F in July,
with 23.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 43.4 inches of snow per year.
Mellette's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Mellette roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $115,000 and median rent is $644/month.
Mellette's violent crime rate is 62.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 329.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Mellette are operated by Northwestern Area School District 56-7.
The district has 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1. 19.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Mellette, SD has a population of 176, a median household income of $71,563, 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.
Mellette averages 22.1°F in January and 83.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 23.0 inches
with about 43.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Mellette, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57461.
The population of Mellette, South Dakota is 176 with a median age of 40.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Mellette: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $115,000, median household income $71,563, crime index 16 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mellette side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.