What are the schools like in Pierre, SD?

Pierre is served primarily by Pierre School District 32-2. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.5:1.

What is the median household income in Pierre?

The median household income in Pierre, SD is $80,473 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.5%.

What is the weather like in Pierre, SD?

Pierre has an average high temperature of 29.0°F in January and 88.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 20.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 37.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Pierre, SD affordable or expensive?

Pierre's cost of living index is 94, where 100 represents the national average. This means Pierre is 6% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $216,700 and the median rent is $914 per month.

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

Pierre has a violent crime rate of 506.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1989.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Pierre, SD a Good Place to Live?

Pierre is a small city of 14,105 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $80,473 and a 0.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% below the national average.

Strengths: Pierre stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

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

All Pierre 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: 93.8

Pierre's overall cost of living index is 93.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Pierre costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.

Metric	Pierre, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$216,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$914	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	70.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$80,473	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Pierre's violent crime rate is 506.4 per 100,000 residents — 33% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

506.4 /100k

Property Crime

1989.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Pierre is served primarily by Pierre School District 32-2. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.5:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Pierre, SD	National Avg
School District	Pierre School District 32-2	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	34.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Pierre sees average highs of 29.0°F in January and 88.3°F in July, with 20.5 inches of annual precipitation and 37.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Pierre, SD
Average High — January	29.0°F
Average High — July	88.3°F
Annual Precipitation	20.5"
Annual Snowfall	37.2"

Demographics

Metric	Pierre, SD	National Avg
Population	14,105	—
Median Age	39.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	11.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	83.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.6%	6.3%
Under 18	22.3%	22.2%
65 and over	17.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Fort Pierre, SD 3 mi Oahe Acres, SD 6 mi Cow Creek, SD 14 mi Blunt, SD 19 mi Onida, SD 26 mi

ZIP Codes in Pierre

Pierre, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57501

Pierre vs Other Cities

Pierre, SD vs Fort Pierre, SD Pierre, SD vs Oahe Acres, SD Pierre, SD vs Cow Creek, SD Pierre, SD vs Blunt, SD Pierre, SD vs Onida, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pierre, SD affordable or expensive?

Pierre's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average. That makes Pierre roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $216,700 and median rent is $914/month.

What is the crime rate in Pierre, SD?

Pierre's violent crime rate is 506.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1989.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Pierre?

Public schools in Pierre are operated by Pierre School District 32-2. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.5:1. 34.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Pierre, SD a good place to live?

Pierre, SD has a population of 14,105, a median household income of $80,473, and an unemployment rate of 0.5%. 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 Pierre?

Pierre averages 29.0°F in January and 88.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 20.5 inches with about 37.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Pierre?

Pierre, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57501.

What is the population of Pierre?

The population of Pierre, South Dakota is 14,105 with a median age of 39.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Pierre?

Key numbers for living in Pierre: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $216,700, median household income $80,473, crime index 118 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Pierre side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.