Pukwana is a small town of 293 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $76,250
and a 1.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Pukwana stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Pukwana is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Pukwana 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: 89.9
Pukwana's overall cost of living index is 89.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Pukwana costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Pukwana, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$101,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$900
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
86.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$76,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Pukwana's violent crime rate is 207.7 per 100,000 residents
— 45% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
207.7 /100k
Property Crime
736.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Pukwana, 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
18.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Pukwana sees average highs of 30.6°F in January
and 87.7°F in July,
with 20.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 43.3 inches of snow per year.
Pukwana's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Pukwana roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $101,100 and median rent is $900/month.
Pukwana's violent crime rate is 207.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 736.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Pukwana, SD has a population of 293, a median household income of $76,250, and an unemployment rate of 1.6%.
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.
Pukwana averages 30.6°F in January and 87.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 20.4 inches
with about 43.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Pukwana, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57370.
The population of Pukwana, South Dakota is 293 with a median age of 50.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Pukwana: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $101,100, median household income $76,250, crime index 47 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Pukwana side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.