What are the schools like in Stratford, SD?

Stratford is served primarily by Northwestern Area School District 56-7. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.8:1.

What is the median household income in Stratford?

The median household income in Stratford, SD is $68,750 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.0%.

What is the weather like in Stratford, SD?

Stratford has an average high temperature of 20.7°F in January and 82.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 22.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 34.1 inches.

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

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

Stratford has a violent crime rate of 236.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1099.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Stratford, SD a Good Place to Live?

Stratford is a small town of 57 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $68,750 .

Strengths: Stratford stands out for below-average home prices, short average commutes.

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

All Stratford city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Cost of living data is based on the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for the Stratford metro area.

Metric	Stratford, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$67,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	N/A	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	100.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$68,750	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Stratford's violent crime rate is 236.9 per 100,000 residents — 38% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

236.9 /100k

Property Crime

1099.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Stratford is served primarily by Northwestern Area School District 56-7. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Stratford, SD	National Avg
School District	Northwestern Area School District 56-7	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	100.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Stratford sees average highs of 20.7°F in January and 82.7°F in July, with 22.4 inches of annual precipitation and 34.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Stratford, SD
Average High — January	20.7°F
Average High — July	82.7°F
Annual Precipitation	22.4"
Annual Snowfall	34.1"

Demographics

Metric	Stratford, SD	National Avg
Population	57	—
Median Age	33.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.5%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	15.8%	22.2%
65 and over	17.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hutterville Colony, SD 6 mi Warner, SD 9 mi Bath Corner, SD 10 mi Ferney, SD 10 mi Bath, SD 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Stratford

Stratford, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57474

Stratford vs Other Cities

Stratford, SD vs Hutterville Colony, SD Stratford, SD vs Warner, SD Stratford, SD vs Bath Corner, SD Stratford, SD vs Ferney, SD Stratford, SD vs Bath, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Stratford, SD affordable or expensive?

Stratford has a median home value of $67,500 and median rent of N/A/month against a median household income of $68,750.

What is the crime rate in Stratford, SD?

Stratford's violent crime rate is 236.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1099.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Stratford?

Public schools in Stratford are operated by Northwestern Area School District 56-7. The district has 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1. 20.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Stratford, SD a good place to live?

Stratford, SD has a population of 57, a median household income of $68,750, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%. 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 Stratford?

Stratford averages 20.7°F in January and 82.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 22.4 inches with about 34.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Stratford?

Stratford, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57474.

What is the population of Stratford?

The population of Stratford, South Dakota is 57 with a median age of 33.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Stratford?

Key numbers for living in Stratford: median home $67,500, median household income $68,750, crime index 58 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Stratford side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.