What are the schools like in Mitchell, SD?

Mitchell is served primarily by Mitchell School District 17-2. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.4:1.

What is the median household income in Mitchell?

The median household income in Mitchell, SD is $51,763 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.7%.

What is the weather like in Mitchell, SD?

Mitchell has an average high temperature of 28.2°F in January and 85.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 21.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 40.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Mitchell, SD affordable or expensive?

Mitchell's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Mitchell is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $168,400 and the median rent is $761 per month.

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

Mitchell has a violent crime rate of 262.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1967.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Mitchell, SD a Good Place to Live?

Mitchell is a small city of 15,656 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $51,763 and a 1.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Mitchell 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 Mitchell is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Mitchell 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: 91.1

Mitchell's overall cost of living index is 91.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Mitchell costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Mitchell, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$168,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$761	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	59.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$51,763	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Mitchell's violent crime rate is 262.7 per 100,000 residents — 31% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

262.7 /100k

Property Crime

1967.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Mitchell is served primarily by Mitchell School District 17-2. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Mitchell, SD	National Avg
School District	Mitchell School District 17-2	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	24.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Mitchell sees average highs of 28.2°F in January and 85.8°F in July, with 21.1 inches of annual precipitation and 40.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Mitchell, SD
Average High — January	28.2°F
Average High — July	85.8°F
Annual Precipitation	21.1"
Annual Snowfall	40.6"

Demographics

Metric	Mitchell, SD	National Avg
Population	15,656	—
Median Age	39.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	11.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.7%	18.9%
Asian	1.1%	6.3%
Under 18	22.5%	22.2%
65 and over	21.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Loomis, SD 6 mi Millbrook Colony, SD 9 mi Fulton, SD 10 mi Upland Colony, SD 10 mi Rosedale Colony, SD 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Mitchell

Mitchell, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57301

Mitchell vs Other Cities

Mitchell, SD vs Loomis, SD Mitchell, SD vs Millbrook Colony, SD Mitchell, SD vs Fulton, SD Mitchell, SD vs Upland Colony, SD Mitchell, SD vs Rosedale Colony, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mitchell, SD affordable or expensive?

Mitchell's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Mitchell roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $168,400 and median rent is $761/month.

What is the crime rate in Mitchell, SD?

Mitchell's violent crime rate is 262.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1967.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Mitchell?

Public schools in Mitchell are operated by Mitchell School District 17-2. The district has 6 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1. 24.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Mitchell, SD a good place to live?

Mitchell, SD has a population of 15,656, a median household income of $51,763, and an unemployment rate of 1.7%. 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.

What is the weather like in Mitchell?

Mitchell averages 28.2°F in January and 85.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 21.1 inches with about 40.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Mitchell?

Mitchell, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57301.

What is the population of Mitchell?

The population of Mitchell, South Dakota is 15,656 with a median age of 39.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Mitchell?

Key numbers for living in Mitchell: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $168,400, median household income $51,763, crime index 79 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mitchell side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.