What are the schools like in Selby, SD?

Selby is served primarily by Selby Area School District 62-5. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9.2:1.

What is the median household income in Selby?

The median household income in Selby, SD is $46,750 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 11.4%.

What is the weather like in Selby, SD?

Selby has an average high temperature of 23.2°F in January and 84.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 19.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 33.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Selby, SD affordable or expensive?

Selby's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Selby is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $105,800 and the median rent is $867 per month.

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

Selby has a violent crime rate of 165.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 294.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Selby, SD a Good Place to Live?

Selby is a small town of 695 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $46,750 and a 11.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Selby is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Selby 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: 89.8

Selby's overall cost of living index is 89.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Selby costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Selby, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$105,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$867	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	81.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$46,750	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Selby's violent crime rate is 165.6 per 100,000 residents — 56% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

165.6 /100k

Property Crime

294.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Selby is served primarily by Selby Area School District 62-5. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Selby, SD	National Avg
School District	Selby Area School District 62-5	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	9.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	78.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Selby sees average highs of 23.2°F in January and 84.1°F in July, with 19.2 inches of annual precipitation and 33.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Selby, SD
Average High — January	23.2°F
Average High — July	84.1°F
Annual Precipitation	19.2"
Annual Snowfall	33.4"

Demographics

Metric	Selby, SD	National Avg
Population	695	—
Median Age	40.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	11.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	83.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	22.9%	22.2%
65 and over	23.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Java, SD 7 mi Glenham, SD 12 mi Akaska, SD 13 mi Lowry, SD 13 mi Mound City, SD 15 mi

ZIP Codes in Selby

Selby, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57472

Selby vs Other Cities

Selby, SD vs Java, SD Selby, SD vs Glenham, SD Selby, SD vs Akaska, SD Selby, SD vs Lowry, SD Selby, SD vs Mound City, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Selby, SD affordable or expensive?

Selby's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Selby roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $105,800 and median rent is $867/month.

What is the crime rate in Selby, SD?

Selby's violent crime rate is 165.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 294.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Selby?

Public schools in Selby are operated by Selby Area School District 62-5. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.2:1. 16.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Selby, SD a good place to live?

Selby, SD has a population of 695, a median household income of $46,750, and an unemployment rate of 11.4%. 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 Selby?

Selby averages 23.2°F in January and 84.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 19.2 inches with about 33.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Selby?

Selby, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57472.

What is the population of Selby?

The population of Selby, South Dakota is 695 with a median age of 40.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Selby?

Key numbers for living in Selby: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $105,800, median household income $46,750, crime index 32 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Selby side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.