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De Smet vs Highmore

94 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+11.2 pts in De Smet) and street grid (2× in De Smet).

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De Smet, SDKnown for its schoolsSouth Dakota · 943 people

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Highmore, SDKnown for its schoolsSouth Dakota · 596 people

Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

De SmetKnown for its schools

SchoolsBetter than 18%of SD districts

HistorySettled in 18805 places on the National Register Housing$261K typical home19% below the SD typical home All about De Smet →

HighmoreKnown for its schools

SchoolsBetter than 86%of SD districts All about Highmore →

The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Growth since 2010+11.2 pts

De Smet has grown faster since 2010

De Smet -3%Highmore -14.2%

De Smet has the more walkable street grid

De Smet 79.4Highmore 39.4

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $670 more a month in De Smet

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

De Smet$1,630/mo

Typical home $261K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.23% · or rent about $708/mo · Housing →

Highmore$960/mo

Typical home $152K (Census) · tax rate 1.31% · or rent about $980/mo · Housing →

The difference: $670 a month, about $8,100 a year, between De Smet and Highmore.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every South Dakota ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools

C−De SmetBetter than 18% of districts in the state AHighmoreBetter than 86% of districts in the state

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

De SmetHighmore

Snow a year41″40″

January low5°F 7°F

July high82°F 86°F

Growing season (days)151d 142d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)30th 76th

Outdoors & history

De SmetHighmore

Trails0 mi —

Conserved land0.3%—

Settled1880 —

National Register places5 3

Community

De SmetHighmore

Library hours a week23 hrs 25 hrs

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

94 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

De SmetSD HighmoreSD

De Smet ↔ Highmore94 miles apart

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs South Dakota average

De SmetHighmore

People

Population 943Highest 596Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -3%Highest SD: +8.9% -14.2%Lowest SD: +8.9%

Median age 47.3±9.4Lowest 24% above SD 47.4±19Highest 25% above SD

Highmore and De Smet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 19.9%±3.9Lowest SD: 24.2% 22.3%±6.3Highest SD: 24.2%

Highmore and De Smet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 29.3%±5.1Highest SD: 18% 26.8%±6Lowest SD: 18%

De Smet and Highmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 22.1%Highest SD: 31.9% 19.5%Lowest SD: 31.9%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0.3%±1.1Lowest SD: 5% 1.5%±1.6Highest SD: 5%

Highmore and De Smet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $67,321±$16kLowest 10% below SD $103,017±$45kHighest 37% above SD

Highmore and De Smet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $165,200±$24kHighest 36% below SD $151,800±$89kLowest 41% below SD

De Smet and Highmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $708±$307Lowest 25% below SD $980±$176Highest 4% above SD

Highmore and De Smet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $2,036Highest 25% below SD $1,986Lowest 27% below SD

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 28.1%±14.8Highest SD: 39.8% 15.4%±68.8Lowest SD: 39.8%

De Smet and Highmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 4.6%Lowest SD: 11.9% 5.2%Highest SD: 11.9%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 85.2%Lowest SD: 68.6% 87.7%Highest SD: 68.6%

Typical home builtmedian year 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than SD 1961Highest 19 yrs older than SD

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 12 minHighest 34% below SD 10 minLowest 47% below SD

Work from home 6.9%±4.3Highest SD: 9.7% 5%±5.6Lowest SD: 9.7%

De Smet and Highmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 31%Highest 29.9%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 26.8 mi 26.8 mi

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.42Highest 0.95Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Sioux Falls (9%)Pierre (7%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in HighmoreFew work in De Smet

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0.3%Highest 0%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 0.0 mi 0.0 mi

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Highest 0Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 79.4Highest 39.4Lowest

Schools

School district De Smet School District 38-2Highmore-Harrold School District 34-2

High school in town De Smet High School - 01Highmore High School - 01

Students per teacherat that high school 10.1Highest 7.7Lowest

South Dakota average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

De Smet neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to De Smet’s Town Square.

Highmore neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Highmore’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Towns like De Smet

Wall622 people · $165K homes

Centerville903 people · $161K homes

Edgemont860 people · $103K homes

Marion981 people · $165K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.