What are the schools like in Wolsey, SD?

Wolsey is served primarily by Wolsey Wessington School District 02-6. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.4:1.

What is the median household income in Wolsey?

The median household income in Wolsey, SD is $54,911 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.4%.

What is the weather like in Wolsey, SD?

Wolsey has an average high temperature of 25.8°F in January and 85.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 24.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 44.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Wolsey, SD affordable or expensive?

Wolsey's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Wolsey is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $90,200 and the median rent is $655 per month.

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

Wolsey has a violent crime rate of 233.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1208.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Wolsey, SD a Good Place to Live?

Wolsey is a small town of 745 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $54,911 and a 1.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

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

All Wolsey 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: 86.8

Wolsey's overall cost of living index is 86.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Wolsey costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Wolsey, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$90,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$655	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	77.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$54,911	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Wolsey's violent crime rate is 233.0 per 100,000 residents — 39% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

233.0 /100k

Property Crime

1208.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Wolsey is served primarily by Wolsey Wessington School District 02-6. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Wolsey, SD	National Avg
School District	Wolsey Wessington School District 02-6	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	80.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Wolsey sees average highs of 25.8°F in January and 85.7°F in July, with 24.5 inches of annual precipitation and 44.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Wolsey, SD
Average High — January	25.8°F
Average High — July	85.7°F
Annual Precipitation	24.5"
Annual Snowfall	44.4"

Demographics

Metric	Wolsey, SD	National Avg
Population	745	—
Median Age	34.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	98.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	31.3%	22.2%
65 and over	17.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Broadland, SD 9 mi Virgil, SD 9 mi Wessington, SD 11 mi Huron, SD 13 mi Morningside, SD 15 mi

ZIP Codes in Wolsey

Wolsey, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57384

Wolsey vs Other Cities

Wolsey, SD vs Broadland, SD Wolsey, SD vs Virgil, SD Wolsey, SD vs Wessington, SD Wolsey, SD vs Huron, SD Wolsey, SD vs Morningside, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wolsey, SD affordable or expensive?

Wolsey's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Wolsey roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $90,200 and median rent is $655/month.

What is the crime rate in Wolsey, SD?

Wolsey's violent crime rate is 233.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1208.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Wolsey?

Public schools in Wolsey are operated by Wolsey Wessington School District 02-6. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.4:1. 22.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Wolsey, SD a good place to live?

Wolsey, SD has a population of 745, a median household income of $54,911, and an unemployment rate of 1.4%. 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 Wolsey?

Wolsey averages 25.8°F in January and 85.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 24.5 inches with about 44.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Wolsey?

Wolsey, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57384.

What is the population of Wolsey?

The population of Wolsey, South Dakota is 745 with a median age of 34.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Wolsey?

Key numbers for living in Wolsey: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $90,200, median household income $54,911, crime index 60 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wolsey side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.