What are the schools like in Yankton, SD?

Yankton is served primarily by Yankton School District 63-3. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.8:1.

What is the median household income in Yankton?

The median household income in Yankton, SD is $60,180 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.1%.

What is the weather like in Yankton, SD?

Yankton has an average high temperature of 30.0°F in January and 87.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 28.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 38.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Yankton, SD affordable or expensive?

Yankton's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Yankton is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $191,400 and the median rent is $754 per month.

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

Yankton has a violent crime rate of 273.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1968.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Yankton, SD a Good Place to Live?

Yankton is a small city of 15,421 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $60,180 and a 1.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Yankton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Yankton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Yankton 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: 91.7

Yankton's overall cost of living index is 91.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Yankton costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Yankton, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$191,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$754	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	64.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$60,180	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Yankton's violent crime rate is 273.9 per 100,000 residents — 28% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

273.9 /100k

Property Crime

1968.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Yankton is served primarily by Yankton School District 63-3. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.8:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Yankton, SD	National Avg
School District	Yankton School District 63-3	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	30.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Yankton sees average highs of 30.0°F in January and 87.1°F in July, with 28.7 inches of annual precipitation and 38.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Yankton, SD
Average High — January	30.0°F
Average High — July	87.1°F
Annual Precipitation	28.7"
Annual Snowfall	38.1"

Demographics

Metric	Yankton, SD	National Avg
Population	15,421	—
Median Age	39.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	12.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	20.8%	22.2%
65 and over	21.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Aten, NE 4 mi Mission Hill, SD 6 mi Utica, SD 8 mi St. Helena, NE 9 mi Gayville, SD 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Yankton

Yankton, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57078

Yankton vs Other Cities

Yankton, SD vs Aten, NE Yankton, SD vs Mission Hill, SD Yankton, SD vs Utica, SD Yankton, SD vs St. Helena, NE Yankton, SD vs Gayville, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Yankton, SD affordable or expensive?

Yankton's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Yankton roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $191,400 and median rent is $754/month.

What is the crime rate in Yankton, SD?

Yankton's violent crime rate is 273.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1968.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Yankton?

Public schools in Yankton are operated by Yankton School District 63-3. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.8:1. 30.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Yankton, SD a good place to live?

Yankton, SD has a population of 15,421, a median household income of $60,180, and an unemployment rate of 1.1%. 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 Yankton?

Yankton averages 30.0°F in January and 87.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.7 inches with about 38.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Yankton?

Yankton, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57078.

What is the population of Yankton?

The population of Yankton, South Dakota is 15,421 with a median age of 39.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Yankton?

Key numbers for living in Yankton: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $191,400, median household income $60,180, crime index 81 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Yankton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.