Is West Brule, SD a Good Place to Live?
West Brule is a small town of 531 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $30,417 and a 9.5% unemployment rate.
Strengths: West Brule stands out for short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether West Brule is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All West Brule 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 West Brule metro area.
| Metric | West Brule, SD | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | N/A | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $453 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.4% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $30,417 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeWest Brule's violent crime rate is 79.3 per 100,000 residents — 79% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
West Brule is served primarily by Lower Brule Day School. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.8:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | West Brule, SD | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Lower Brule Day School | — |
| Elementary Schools | N/A | — |
| Middle Schools | N/A | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 19.8:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 0.9% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 78.3% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
West Brule sees average highs of 29.4°F in January and 87.5°F in July, with 20.1 inches of annual precipitation and 18.9 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | West Brule, SD |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 29.4°F |
| Average High — July | 87.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.9" |
Demographics
| Metric | West Brule, SD | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 531 | — |
| Median Age | 21.9 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 8.5 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 6.6% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.0% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 0.0% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 47.1% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 6.4% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in West Brule
West Brule, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: