What are the schools like in Parkston, SD?

Parkston is served primarily by Parkston School District 33-3. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.0:1.

What is the median household income in Parkston?

The median household income in Parkston, SD is $70,982 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.0%.

What is the weather like in Parkston, SD?

Parkston has an average high temperature of 31.8°F in January and 88.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 26.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 34.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Parkston, SD affordable or expensive?

Parkston's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Parkston is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $139,200 and the median rent is $704 per month.

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

Parkston has a violent crime rate of 65.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 65.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Parkston, SD a Good Place to Live?

Parkston is a small town of 2,003 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $70,982 and a 2.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

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

All Parkston 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: 89.5

Parkston's overall cost of living index is 89.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Parkston costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Parkston, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$139,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$704	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	74.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$70,982	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Parkston's violent crime rate is 65.0 per 100,000 residents — 83% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

65.0 /100k

Property Crime

65.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Parkston is served primarily by Parkston School District 33-3. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Parkston, SD	National Avg
School District	Parkston School District 33-3	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	24.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Parkston sees average highs of 31.8°F in January and 88.0°F in July, with 26.4 inches of annual precipitation and 34.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Parkston, SD
Average High — January	31.8°F
Average High — July	88.0°F
Annual Precipitation	26.4"
Annual Snowfall	34.4"

Demographics

Metric	Parkston, SD	National Avg
Population	2,003	—
Median Age	37.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	12.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	29.2%	22.2%
65 and over	17.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dimock, SD 6 mi Milltown, SD 9 mi New Elm Spring Colony, SD 10 mi Ethan, SD 11 mi Old Elm Spring Colony, SD 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Parkston

Parkston, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57366

Parkston vs Other Cities

Parkston, SD vs Dimock, SD Parkston, SD vs Milltown, SD Parkston, SD vs New Elm Spring Colony, SD Parkston, SD vs Ethan, SD Parkston, SD vs Old Elm Spring Colony, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Parkston, SD affordable or expensive?

Parkston's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Parkston roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $139,200 and median rent is $704/month.

What is the crime rate in Parkston, SD?

Parkston's violent crime rate is 65.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 65.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Parkston?

Public schools in Parkston are operated by Parkston School District 33-3. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1. 24.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Parkston, SD a good place to live?

Parkston, SD has a population of 2,003, a median household income of $70,982, and an unemployment rate of 2.0%. 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.

What is the weather like in Parkston?

Parkston averages 31.8°F in January and 88.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 26.4 inches with about 34.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Parkston?

Parkston, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57366.

What is the population of Parkston?

The population of Parkston, South Dakota is 2,003 with a median age of 37.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Parkston?

Key numbers for living in Parkston: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $139,200, median household income $70,982, crime index 12 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Parkston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.