What are the schools like in Wasta, SD?

Wasta 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 Wasta?

The median household income in Wasta, SD is $48,750 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 Wasta, SD?

Wasta has an average high temperature of 35.1°F in January and 89.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 17.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 30.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Wasta, SD affordable or expensive?

Wasta's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Wasta is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $94,400 and the median rent is N/A per month.

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

Wasta has a violent crime rate of 656.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3129.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Wasta, SD a Good Place to Live?

Wasta is a small town of 63 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $48,750 . Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Wasta 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 Wasta is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Wasta 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

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

Metric	Wasta, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$94,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	N/A	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	91.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$48,750	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Wasta's violent crime rate is 656.6 per 100,000 residents — 73% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

656.6 /100k

Property Crime

3129.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Wasta 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	Wasta, 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	20.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Wasta sees average highs of 35.1°F in January and 89.0°F in July, with 17.7 inches of annual precipitation and 30.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Wasta, SD
Average High — January	35.1°F
Average High — July	89.0°F
Annual Precipitation	17.7"
Annual Snowfall	30.4"

Demographics

Metric	Wasta, SD	National Avg
Population	63	—
Median Age	64.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	6.3%	22.2%
65 and over	46.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Wall, SD 11 mi Quinn, SD 17 mi New Underwood, SD 20 mi Caputa, SD 27 mi Cottonwood, SD 28 mi

ZIP Codes in Wasta

Wasta, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57791

Wasta vs Other Cities

Wasta, SD vs Wall, SD Wasta, SD vs Quinn, SD Wasta, SD vs New Underwood, SD Wasta, SD vs Caputa, SD Wasta, SD vs Cottonwood, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wasta, SD affordable or expensive?

Wasta's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Wasta roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $94,400 and median rent is N/A/month.

What is the crime rate in Wasta, SD?

Wasta's violent crime rate is 656.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3129.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Wasta?

Public schools in Wasta 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. 20.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Wasta, SD a good place to live?

Wasta, SD has a population of 63, a median household income of $48,750, 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.

What is the weather like in Wasta?

Wasta averages 35.1°F in January and 89.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 17.7 inches with about 30.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Wasta?

Wasta, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57791.

What is the population of Wasta?

The population of Wasta, South Dakota is 63 with a median age of 64.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Wasta?

Key numbers for living in Wasta: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $94,400, median household income $48,750, crime index 163 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wasta side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.