What are the schools like in Wagner, SD?

Wagner is served primarily by Wagner Community School District 11-4. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.6:1.

What is the median household income in Wagner?

The median household income in Wagner, SD is $52,333 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.1%.

What is the weather like in Wagner, SD?

Wagner has an average high temperature of 32.1°F in January and 88.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 26.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 31.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Wagner, SD affordable or expensive?

Wagner's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Wagner is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $126,300 and the median rent is $709 per month.

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

Wagner has a violent crime rate of 639.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3909.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Wagner, SD a Good Place to Live?

Wagner is a small town of 1,621 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $52,333 and a 8.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Wagner is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Wagner 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: 89.1

Wagner's overall cost of living index is 89.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Wagner costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Wagner, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$126,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$709	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	60.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$52,333	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Wagner's violent crime rate is 639.7 per 100,000 residents — 68% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

639.7 /100k

Property Crime

3909.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Wagner is served primarily by Wagner Community School District 11-4. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Wagner, SD	National Avg
School District	Wagner Community School District 11-4	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Wagner sees average highs of 32.1°F in January and 88.2°F in July, with 26.3 inches of annual precipitation and 31.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Wagner, SD
Average High — January	32.1°F
Average High — July	88.2°F
Annual Precipitation	26.3"
Annual Snowfall	31.3"

Demographics

Metric	Wagner, SD	National Avg
Population	1,621	—
Median Age	36.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	12.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	50.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.2%	18.9%
Asian	1.0%	6.3%
Under 18	29.7%	22.2%
65 and over	23.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dante, SD 6 mi Ravinia, SD 8 mi Clearfield Colony, SD 9 mi Marty, SD 9 mi Greenwood Colony, SD 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Wagner

Wagner, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57380

Wagner vs Other Cities

Wagner, SD vs Dante, SD Wagner, SD vs Ravinia, SD Wagner, SD vs Clearfield Colony, SD Wagner, SD vs Marty, SD Wagner, SD vs Greenwood Colony, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wagner, SD affordable or expensive?

Wagner's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Wagner roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $126,300 and median rent is $709/month.

What is the crime rate in Wagner, SD?

Wagner's violent crime rate is 639.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3909.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Wagner?

Public schools in Wagner are operated by Wagner Community School District 11-4. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.6:1. 20.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Wagner, SD a good place to live?

Wagner, SD has a population of 1,621, a median household income of $52,333, and an unemployment rate of 8.1%. 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 Wagner?

Wagner averages 32.1°F in January and 88.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 26.3 inches with about 31.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Wagner?

Wagner, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57380.

What is the population of Wagner?

The population of Wagner, South Dakota is 1,621 with a median age of 36.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Wagner?

Key numbers for living in Wagner: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $126,300, median household income $52,333, crime index 175 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wagner side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.