Whitewood is a small town of 875 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $70,000
and a 6.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Whitewood stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Whitewood is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Whitewood 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: 92.4
Whitewood's overall cost of living index is 92.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Whitewood costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Whitewood, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$179,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$859
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
80.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$70,000
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Whitewood's violent crime rate is 207.9 per 100,000 residents
— 45% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
207.9 /100k
Property Crime
207.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Whitewood 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
Whitewood, 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
17.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Whitewood sees average highs of 38.0°F in January
and 82.9°F in July,
with 25.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 47.6 inches of snow per year.
Whitewood's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Whitewood roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $179,200 and median rent is $859/month.
Whitewood's violent crime rate is 207.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 207.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Whitewood 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. 17.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Whitewood, SD has a population of 875, a median household income of $70,000, and an unemployment rate of 6.6%.
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.
Whitewood averages 38.0°F in January and 82.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 25.2 inches
with about 47.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Whitewood, South Dakota is 875 with a median age of 47.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Whitewood: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $179,200, median household income $70,000, crime index 37 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Whitewood side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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