10 Best Places to Retire in South Dakota

If you are looking for somewhere to retire in one of the quietest, most peaceful states of the United States, then this list of best places to retire in South Dakota might just be perfect for you!

South Dakota is the 5th least populous state of the country with the Missouri River running through it dividing it into two parts. This state, which houses the famous Mount Rushmore, is good news for retirees as it is a reasonably priced area with the cost of living index being 87.6 (2.4 percent below the US average).

When it comes to climate, this beautiful state has four distinct seasons, giving rise to hot summers, cold winters, and green springs. The Black Hills located in the southwest region enhance the beauty of these sunny days, making the place perfect for the outdoorsy types!

To narrow down the cities to form our list of 10 best places to retire in South Dakota, we considered only those that have a population of 3,000 residents or more, taking population statistics from City-Data. We then ranked these cities based on the following factors (giving all of them equal importance and ranking the cities separately in each category to create, in the end, an average ranking), taking numbers from Sperling’s Best Places:

Cost of living – considering that a person living on a retirement fund is especially conscious about his or her expenses, we have taken this into account and selected cost of living index as one of the criteria for formulating our list.

Crime rate – safety is one of the most important factors when deciding to move to a new place. The higher the crime rate, the lower the city was ranked on our list.

Number of physicians per 100,000 population – for health care reasons, this is a useful factor to consider while deciding a place to retire.

Average commute time – no one wants to drive for ages just to get to the grocery store, especially not a retiree. Therefore, cities with lower commute times were placed higher in the following list.

Now that you know how the cities have been positioned, let’s move on to the actual ranking! However, if you’ve got the wrong Dakota, you can also visit our article on 10 best places to retire in North Dakota! Let’s finally start the countdown!

10. Aberdeen

Cost of living index: 93

Crime rate: 48

Number of physicians per 100,000 population: 211

Average commute time: 11 minutes

In addition to being an inexpensive city, Aberdeen is a center for sports activities as well as home to many parks and recreational areas, such as Family Aquatic Center, Wylie Park Recreation Area, Storybook Land and Richmond Lake Recreation Area. Sports lovers can enjoy bowling, minor league baseball, tennis, etc. Not only that but three golf courses are also present here. It is safe to say that someone who moves to Aberdeen will have plenty to do.

8. Dell Rapids

Cost of living index: 92

Crime Rate: 29

Number of physicians per 100,000 population: 348

Average commute time: 22 minutes

Dubbed the little city with the big attractions, this humble place which ranks 8th on our list of best places to retire in South Dakota has climbed up our list due to its high availability of physicians. In general, Dell Rapids has a good health care system, with the costs being low as well.

Furthermore, since the Big Sioux River flows through the city, residents can enjoy canoeing or kayaking. They can also take advantage of the Big Sioux Recreation Area that has been developed around it.

8. Sturgis

Cost of living index: 94.2

Crime Rate: 29

Number of physicians per 100,000 population: 244

Average commute time: 15 minutes

The second city coming in at number eight on our list of best places to retire in South Dakota is Sturgis. This city presents us with many perks, with its low cost of living, low crime rate and less average time for commuting. Places to see here include Bear Butte State Park, Fort Meade, Sturgis Motorcycle Museum, etc.

7. Vermillion

Cost of living index: 91.8

Crime Rate: 20

Number of physicians per 100,000 population: 159

Average commute time: 15 minutes

Yet another safe city in South Dakota, Vermillion offers camping, fine dining, pubs, lodging, parks, recreation and shopping malls. Combining all these activities, the list of points of interest for retirees is quite long which you can see here.

6. Hot Springs

Cost of living index: 84.7

Crime Rate: 36

Number of physicians per 100,000 population: 113

Average commute time: 12 minutes

Hot Springs is one of the warmest cities in the state and hence a comfortable place to live in, taking the 6th spot on our list of 10 best places to retire in South Dakota. The biggest attraction in the city is Mammoth Site which is a museum and excavation site, an interesting activity for people of all ages.

5. Huron

Cost of living index: 82.8

Crime Rate: 40

Number of physicians per 100,000 population: 127

Average commute time: 11 minutes

Extremely cheap when it comes to general expenses but not so attractive when it comes to availability of physicians, Huron which ranks 5th on our list of best places to retire in South Dakota was once home to the Huron University (known to many as the Si Tanka University). After the university had closed, a water park was built in the space left behind. Furthermore, to keep the interests of the residents, the Fine Arts Center was purchased which is used for entertainment activities.

4. Yankton

Cost of living index: 90

Crime Rate: 39

Number of physicians per 100,000 population: 325

Average commute time: 13 minutes

Often known as the “River City” due to its nearness to the Missouri River, Yankton, the number 4 on our list of best places to retire in South Dakota is considered extremely important in the history of the Dakota Territory. The city provides ample opportunities for inhabitants who want to walk or bicycle through it including the double-decker Meridian bridge over the river. Moreover, camping, swimming, and boating activities are also available.

3. Milbank

Cost of living index: 86.9

Crime rate: 32

Number of physicians per 100,000 population: 150

Average commute time: 12 minutes

We are continuing our list with Milbank, which is most popularly known as the founding city of American Legion Baseball. Although it is a quiet and small city with a population of merely 3,269 residents, it offers beautiful scenic views at Lake Farley Park as well as Abbey of the Hills, a breathtaking retreat a few miles west of the city.

2. Madison

Cost of living index: 85.6

Crime rate: 22

Number of physicians per 100,000 population: 134

Average commute time: 13 minutes

Madison is situated between the Lakes Herman and Madison and houses the Dakota State University. It is an easy place to get around with commute times being conveniently low. Costs and crime rates are also extremely reasonable, making it quite the destination for retirees.

1. Mitchell

Cost of living index: 89.8

Crime rate: 34

Number of physicians per 100,000 population: 210

Average commute time: 12 minutes

Mitchell has earned the number one place on our list of 10 best places to retire in South Dakota, due to the fact that it shows a positive picture in every aspect. Not only are all of the above criteria satisfied by the numbers, but Mitchell also provides various attractions for its inhabitants, including the Corn Palace and Dakota Discovery Museum. So if you are planning to retire in South Dakota, book your tickets for Mitchell right now!