What are the schools like in North Spearfish, SD?

School district data for North Spearfish is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in North Spearfish?

The median household income in North Spearfish, SD is $67,736 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.1%.

What is the weather like in North Spearfish, SD?

North Spearfish has an average high temperature of 35.9°F in January and 83.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 21.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 70.5 inches.

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

Q: Is North Spearfish, SD affordable or expensive?

North Spearfish's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means North Spearfish is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $261,300 and the median rent is $898 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in North Spearfish, SD?

North Spearfish has a violent crime rate of 247.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1265.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is North Spearfish, SD a Good Place to Live?

North Spearfish is a small town of 1,791 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $67,736 and a 1.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: North Spearfish stands out for an affordable cost of living, a well-educated population, short average commutes.

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

All North Spearfish 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: 94.6

North Spearfish's overall cost of living index is 94.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in North Spearfish costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	North Spearfish, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$261,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$898	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	82.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$67,736	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

North Spearfish's violent crime rate is 247.6 per 100,000 residents — 35% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

247.6 /100k

Property Crime

1265.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric	North Spearfish, SD	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	44.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

North Spearfish sees average highs of 35.9°F in January and 83.6°F in July, with 21.4 inches of annual precipitation and 70.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	North Spearfish, SD
Average High — January	35.9°F
Average High — July	83.6°F
Annual Precipitation	21.4"
Annual Snowfall	70.5"

Demographics

Metric	North Spearfish, SD	National Avg
Population	1,791	—
Median Age	44.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	21.3%	22.2%
65 and over	26.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Mountain Plains, SD 4 mi Spearfish, SD 4 mi Beulah, WY 9 mi St. Onge, SD 9 mi Belle Fourche, SD 11 mi

North Spearfish vs Other Cities

North Spearfish, SD vs Mountain Plains, SD North Spearfish, SD vs Spearfish, SD North Spearfish, SD vs Beulah, WY North Spearfish, SD vs St. Onge, SD North Spearfish, SD vs Belle Fourche, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is North Spearfish, SD affordable or expensive?

North Spearfish's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes North Spearfish roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $261,300 and median rent is $898/month.

What is the crime rate in North Spearfish, SD?

North Spearfish's violent crime rate is 247.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1265.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in North Spearfish?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is North Spearfish, SD a good place to live?

North Spearfish, SD has a population of 1,791, a median household income of $67,736, and an unemployment rate of 1.1%. 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 North Spearfish?

North Spearfish averages 35.9°F in January and 83.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 21.4 inches with about 70.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of North Spearfish?

The population of North Spearfish, South Dakota is 1,791 with a median age of 44.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in North Spearfish?

Key numbers for living in North Spearfish: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $261,300, median household income $67,736, crime index 63 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare North Spearfish side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.