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Faulkton vs White River

129 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (5× in White River) and growth since 2010 (+20.5 pts in Faulkton).

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Faulkton, SDKnown for its schoolsSouth Dakota · 670 people
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White River, SDKnown for its schoolsSouth Dakota · 606 people
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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.

FaulktonKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 92%of SD districts History6 historic places6 places on the National Register All about Faulkton →
White RiverKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 2%of SD districts Work212 jobsbased in White River, a regional job hub All about White River →
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.

Trails5×
White River has more miles of trail
White River 0.5 miFaulkton 0.1 mi
Growth since 2010+20.5 pts
Faulkton has grown faster since 2010
Faulkton +12.2%White River -8.3%
Property tax bill+22%
Tax bills are bigger in Faulkton
Faulkton $1,128White River $924
★ What stands out · 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
AFaulktonBetter than 92% of districts in the state D−White RiverBetter than 2% of districts in the state
Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

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.

Faulkton$620/mo
Typical home $100K (Census) · tax rate 1.13% · or rent about $902/mo · Housing →
White River$470/mo
Typical home $75K (Census) · tax rate 1.23% · or rent about $1,125/mo · Housing →

The difference: $150 a month, about $1,800 a year, between Faulkton and White River.

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.

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
FaulktonWhite River
Snow a year44″40″
January low4°F12°F
July high85°F90°F
Growing season (days)139d151d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)37th55th
Outdoors & history
FaulktonWhite River
Trails0 mi1 mi
Conserved land0.5%0%
Settled—1912
National Register places61
Community
FaulktonWhite River
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

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

129 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

FaulktonSDWhite RiverSD
Faulkton ↔ White River129 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.

FaulktonWhite River
People
Population 670Highest 606Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +12.2%Highest SD: +8.9% -8.3%Lowest SD: +8.9%
Median age 37.5±8.6 about the SD average 37.5±3.5 about the SD average
Kids under 18 24.6%±6.4Lowest SD: 24.2% 29.4%±4.9Highest SD: 24.2%
White River and Faulkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 26.1%±6.3Highest SD: 18% 19.8%±5.7Lowest SD: 18%
Faulkton and White River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 22.3%Highest SD: 31.9% 15.3%Lowest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3%±2.3Lowest SD: 5% 3.6%±4.9Highest SD: 5%
White River and Faulkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $63,750±$27kLowest 15% below SD $82,692±$65kHighest 10% above SD
White River and Faulkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $99,600±$25kHighest 61% below SD $75,000±$36kLowest 71% below SD
Faulkton and White River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $902±$231Lowest 5% below SD $1,125±$286Highest 19% above SD
White River and Faulkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,128Highest 59% below SD $924Lowest 66% below SD
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 39%±69.4Highest SD: 39.8% 9.3%±20.1Lowest SD: 39.8%
Faulkton and White River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 13.4%Lowest SD: 11.9% 35.7%Highest SD: 11.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 57.5%Highest SD: 68.6% 51.1%Lowest SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1967Highest 13 yrs older than SD 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than SD
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 16 minLowest 10% below SD 18 minHighest about the SD average
Work from home 1.8%±2.5Lowest SD: 9.7% 2%±2.7Highest SD: 9.7%
White River and Faulkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 27.7%Highest 27.4%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 32.8 miHighest 19.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.25Lowest 1.57Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Aberdeen (8%)Rapid City (10%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in White RiverFew work in Faulkton
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.5%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.1 miLowest 0.5 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 1.0 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1 1
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 90.5Lowest 114Highest
Schools
School district Faulkton Area Schools 24-4White River School District 47-1
High school in town Faulkton High School - 01White River High School - 01
Students per teacherat that high school 9.4Highest 9.3Lowest
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.

Faulkton neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Faulkton’s Town Square.

White River neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to White River’s Town Square.

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Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks South Dakota towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

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.

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