What are the schools like in Sturgis, SD?

Sturgis is served primarily by Meade School District 46-1. The district operates 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.2:1.

What is the median household income in Sturgis?

The median household income in Sturgis, SD is $49,564 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.4%.

What is the weather like in Sturgis, SD?

Sturgis has an average high temperature of 37.7°F in January and 86.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 21.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 47.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Sturgis, SD affordable or expensive?

Sturgis's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Sturgis is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $204,500 and the median rent is $763 per month.

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

Sturgis has a violent crime rate of 226.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1757.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Sturgis, SD a Good Place to Live?

Sturgis is a small town of 7,121 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $49,564 and a 2.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

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

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

All Sturgis 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: 90.3

Sturgis's overall cost of living index is 90.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Sturgis costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Sturgis, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$204,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$763	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	64.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$49,564	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Sturgis's violent crime rate is 226.8 per 100,000 residents — 40% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

226.8 /100k

Property Crime

1757.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Sturgis is served primarily by Meade School District 46-1. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Sturgis, SD	National Avg
School District	Meade School District 46-1	—
Elementary Schools	8	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Sturgis sees average highs of 37.7°F in January and 86.4°F in July, with 21.3 inches of annual precipitation and 47.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Sturgis, SD
Average High — January	37.7°F
Average High — July	86.4°F
Annual Precipitation	21.3"
Annual Snowfall	47.6"

Demographics

Metric	Sturgis, SD	National Avg
Population	7,121	—
Median Age	42.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.7%	6.3%
Under 18	20.6%	22.2%
65 and over	19.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Blucksberg Mountain, SD 4 mi Buffalo Chip, SD 5 mi Boulder Canyon, SD 5 mi Crook City, SD 7 mi Whitewood, SD 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Sturgis

Sturgis, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57785

Sturgis vs Other Cities

Sturgis, SD vs Blucksberg Mountain, SD Sturgis, SD vs Buffalo Chip, SD Sturgis, SD vs Boulder Canyon, SD Sturgis, SD vs Crook City, SD Sturgis, SD vs Whitewood, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sturgis, SD affordable or expensive?

Sturgis's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Sturgis roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $204,500 and median rent is $763/month.

What is the crime rate in Sturgis, SD?

Sturgis's violent crime rate is 226.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1757.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Sturgis?

Public schools in Sturgis are operated by Meade School District 46-1. The district has 8 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1. 20.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Sturgis, SD a good place to live?

Sturgis, SD has a population of 7,121, a median household income of $49,564, and an unemployment rate of 2.4%. 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 Sturgis?

Sturgis averages 37.7°F in January and 86.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 21.3 inches with about 47.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Sturgis?

Sturgis, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57785.

What is the population of Sturgis?

The population of Sturgis, South Dakota is 7,121 with a median age of 42.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Sturgis?

Key numbers for living in Sturgis: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $204,500, median household income $49,564, crime index 69 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sturgis side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.