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Jefferson vs Highmore

196 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (8.6× in Highmore) and work in town (+28.9 pts in Highmore).

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Jefferson, SDHomes around $399KSouth Dakota · 554 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.

JeffersonHomes around $399K

Housing$399K typical home24% above the SD typical home

HistorySettled in 18591 place on the National Register All about Jefferson →

HighmoreKnown for its schools

SchoolsBetter than 86%of SD districts All about Highmore →

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

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

Jobs per worker8.6×

Highmore is more of a job hub

Highmore 0.95Jefferson 0.11

Work in town+28.9 pts

More of Highmore’s workers stay in town

Highmore 29.9%Jefferson 1%

Average commute13 min

Highmore has the shorter commute

Jefferson 22 minHighmore 10 min

Street grid+45%

Jefferson has the more walkable street grid

Jefferson 57.0Highmore 39.4

Typical home built13 yrs

Highmore’s homes are older

Jefferson 1974Highmore 1961

Property tax bill+15%

Tax bills are bigger in Jefferson

Jefferson $2,284Highmore $1,986

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,560 more a month in Jefferson

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%

Jefferson$2,520/mo

Typical home $399K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.27% · Housing →

Highmore$960/mo

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

The difference: $1,560 a month, about $18,700 a year, between Jefferson 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

–JeffersonNot graded 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

JeffersonHighmore

Snow a year36″40″

January low10°F 7°F

July high85°F 86°F

Growing season (days)159d 142d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)82nd 76th

Outdoors & history

JeffersonHighmore

Trails0 mi —

Conserved land1.2%—

Settled1859 —

National Register places1 3

Archive photos2 —

Famous people born here2 —

Community

JeffersonHighmore

Library hours a week—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

196 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

JeffersonSD HighmoreSD

Jefferson ↔ Highmore196 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

JeffersonHighmore

People

Population 554Lowest 596Highest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -13.2%Highest SD: +8.9% -14.2%Lowest SD: +8.9%

Median age 40.6±12Lowest 7% above SD 47.4±19Highest 25% above SD

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

Kids under 18 22.6%±8.8Highest SD: 24.2% 22.3%±6.3Lowest SD: 24.2%

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

Age 65+ 18.6%±2.7Lowest SD: 18% 26.8%±6Highest SD: 18%

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

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 23.2%Highest SD: 31.9% 19.5%Lowest SD: 31.9%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.1%±1.4Lowest SD: 5% 1.5%±1.6Highest SD: 5%

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

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $82,888±$21kLowest 10% above SD $103,017±$45kHighest 37% above SD

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

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $179,400±$23kHighest 30% below SD $151,800±$89kLowest 41% below SD

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

Rentmedian gross, monthly — $980±$176 4% above SD

Property taxmedian, yearly $2,284Highest 16% below SD $1,986Lowest 27% below SD

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 13%±77.6Lowest SD: 39.8% 15.4%±68.8Highest SD: 39.8%

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

Below poverty line 4.9%Lowest SD: 11.9% 5.2%Highest SD: 11.9%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 91%Highest SD: 68.6% 87.7%Lowest SD: 68.6%

Typical home builtmedian year 1974Highest 6 yrs older than SD 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than SD

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 22 minHighest 24% above SD 10 minLowest 47% below SD

Work from home 8.1%±9.6Highest SD: 9.7% 5%±5.6Lowest SD: 9.7%

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

Work in townworking residents 1%Lowest 29.9%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 8.8 miLowest 26.8 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.11Lowest 0.95Highest

Top workplaceoutside town North Sioux City (20%)Pierre (7%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in HighmoreFew work in Jefferson

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 1.2%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 1Highest 0Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 57.0Highest 39.4Lowest

Schools

School district —Highmore-Harrold School District 34-2

High school in town —Highmore High School - 01

Students per teacherat that high school — 7.7

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.

Jefferson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Jefferson’s Town Square.

Highmore neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Highmore’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Jefferson and Highmore

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Towns like Jefferson

Newell378 people · $141K homes

Sheridan Township445 people · $265K homes

Langford481 people · $125K homes

Hurley394 people · $111K 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.