Very AffordableVery SafeIrene - Wakonda School District 13-3
Median Income
$54,219
household / year
Median Home Value
$105,100
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$663
gross / month
Cost of Living
88
national avg = 100
Is Wakonda, SD a Good Place to Live?
Wakonda is a small town of 387 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $54,219
.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Wakonda stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Wakonda is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Wakonda 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: 87.7
Wakonda's overall cost of living index is 87.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Wakonda costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Wakonda, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$105,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$663
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
81.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$54,219
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Wakonda's violent crime rate is 177.7 per 100,000 residents
— 53% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
177.7 /100k
Property Crime
1250.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Wakonda is served primarily by Irene - Wakonda School District 13-3.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Wakonda, SD
National Avg
School District
Irene - Wakonda School District 13-3
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
26.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Wakonda sees average highs of 26.9°F in January
and 84.4°F in July,
with 26.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 30.5 inches of snow per year.
Wakonda's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Wakonda roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $105,100 and median rent is $663/month.
Wakonda's violent crime rate is 177.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1250.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Wakonda are operated by Irene - Wakonda School District 13-3.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 26.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Wakonda, SD has a population of 387, a median household income of $54,219, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%.
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.
Wakonda averages 26.9°F in January and 84.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 26.9 inches
with about 30.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Wakonda, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57073.
The population of Wakonda, South Dakota is 387 with a median age of 42.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Wakonda: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $105,100, median household income $54,219, crime index 52 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wakonda side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.