Parker is a small town of 1,111 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $83,864
and a 4.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Parker stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Parker is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Parker 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: 90.3
Parker's overall cost of living index is 90.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Parker costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Parker, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$183,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$648
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
81.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$83,864
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Parker's violent crime rate is 167.0 per 100,000 residents
— 56% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
167.0 /100k
Property Crime
334.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Parker is served primarily by Parker School District 60-4.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Parker, SD
National Avg
School District
Parker School District 60-4
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
20.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Parker sees average highs of 26.2°F in January
and 84.8°F in July,
with 26.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 40.9 inches of snow per year.
Parker's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Parker roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $183,600 and median rent is $648/month.
Parker's violent crime rate is 167.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 334.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Parker are operated by Parker School District 60-4.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1. 20.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Parker, SD has a population of 1,111, a median household income of $83,864, and an unemployment rate of 4.6%.
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.
Parker averages 26.2°F in January and 84.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 26.5 inches
with about 40.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Parker, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57053.
The population of Parker, South Dakota is 1,111 with a median age of 39.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Parker: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $183,600, median household income $83,864, crime index 33 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Parker side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
