Very AffordableVery SafeWillow Lake School District 12-3
Median Income
$57,292
household / year
Median Home Value
$90,000
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$813
gross / month
Cost of Living
88
national avg = 100
Is Willow Lake, SD a Good Place to Live?
Willow Lake is a small town of 360 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $57,292
.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Willow Lake stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Willow Lake is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Willow Lake 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: 88.5
Willow Lake's overall cost of living index is 88.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Willow Lake costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Willow Lake, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$90,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$813
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
58.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$57,292
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Willow Lake's violent crime rate is 107.1 per 100,000 residents
— 72% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
107.1 /100k
Property Crime
80.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Willow Lake is served primarily by Willow Lake School District 12-3.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Willow Lake, SD
National Avg
School District
Willow Lake School District 12-3
—
Elementary Schools
4
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
17.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
85.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Willow Lake sees average highs of 23.2°F in January
and 81.5°F in July,
with 26.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 47.7 inches of snow per year.
Willow Lake's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Willow Lake roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $90,000 and median rent is $813/month.
Willow Lake's violent crime rate is 107.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 80.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Willow Lake are operated by Willow Lake School District 12-3.
The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. 17.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Willow Lake, SD has a population of 360, a median household income of $57,292, 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.
Willow Lake averages 23.2°F in January and 81.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 26.5 inches
with about 47.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Willow Lake, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57278.
The population of Willow Lake, South Dakota is 360 with a median age of 17.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Willow Lake: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $90,000, median household income $57,292, crime index 18 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Willow Lake side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.