Is Rosebud, SD a Good Place to Live?
Rosebud is a small town of 2,155 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $47,813 and a 19.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 82 (US average = 100), which is 18% below the national average.
Strengths: Rosebud stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Rosebud is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Rosebud 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: 82.4Rosebud's overall cost of living index is 82.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Rosebud costs roughly 18% less than the average American city.
| Metric | Rosebud, SD | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $46,800 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $565 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 30.7% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $47,813 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Crime data for Rosebud is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.
Schools & Education
Rosebud is served primarily by Todd County School District 66-1. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Rosebud, SD | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Todd County School District 66-1 | — |
| Elementary Schools | 8 | — |
| Middle Schools | 2 | — |
| High Schools | 2 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 12.6:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 71.9% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Rosebud sees average highs of 34.2°F in January and 87.4°F in July, with 20.9 inches of annual precipitation and 41.5 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Rosebud, SD |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 34.2°F |
| Average High — July | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 41.5" |
Demographics
| Metric | Rosebud, SD | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,155 | — |
| Median Age | 23.3 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 19.8% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 13.5 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 7.3% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.0% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 0.8% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 1.5% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 38.4% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 5.2% | 16.8% |