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

B+KadokaBetter than 71% of districts in the state C+WaubayBetter than 42% 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

KadokaWaubay

Snow a year38″36″

January low8°F 4°F

July high88°F 82°F

Growing season (days)132d 164d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)60th 41st

Outdoors & history

KadokaWaubay

Trails—0 mi

Conserved land—1%

Settled1906 —

National Register places3 —

Community

KadokaWaubay

Library hours a week23 hrs 33 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

231 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

KadokaSD WaubaySD

Kadoka ↔ Waubay231 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

KadokaWaubay

People

Population 372Highest 337Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -17%Highest SD: +8.9% -17.9%Lowest SD: +8.9%

Median age 47.1±13.6Lowest 24% above SD 53.3±10.2Highest 40% above SD

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

Kids under 18 16.7%±10Lowest SD: 24.2% 21.1%±16.6Highest SD: 24.2%

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

Age 65+ 28.5%±2.5Lowest SD: 18% 40.1%±9.2Highest SD: 18%

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

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 19.7%Lowest SD: 31.9% 24.8%Highest SD: 31.9%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0.5%±2.8Lowest SD: 5% 1.5%±3.6Highest SD: 5%

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

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $43,750±$8kHighest 42% below SD $36,389±$19kLowest 52% below SD

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

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied — $152,800±$85k 41% below SD

Rentmedian gross, monthly $413±$308Lowest 56% below SD $603±$61Highest 36% below SD

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

Property taxmedian, yearly $1,641Highest 40% below SD $1,500Lowest 45% below SD

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 26.9%±33.7Highest SD: 39.8% 16.7%±46.7Lowest SD: 39.8%

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

Below poverty line 12.7%Lowest SD: 11.9% 24.3%Highest SD: 11.9%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 61.8%Highest SD: 68.6% 58.5%Lowest SD: 68.6%

Typical home builtmedian year 1973Highest 7 yrs older than SD 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than SD

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 11 minLowest 39% below SD 13 minHighest 26% below SD

Work from home 0%±5.8Lowest SD: 9.7% 10%±12.3Highest SD: 9.7%

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

Work in townworking residents 29.6%Highest 9.2%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 19.8 miLowest 30.8 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.98Lowest 1.02Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Philip (9%)Webster (15%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in WaubayFew work in Kadoka

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 1%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 0.4 miHighest 0.0 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 miHighest 0.0 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 1Highest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 41.8Lowest 44.3Highest

Schools

School district Kadoka Area School District 35-2Waubay School District 18-3

High school in town Kadoka Area High School - 01Waubay High School - 01

Students per teacherat that high school 7.6Lowest 10.7Highest

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.

Kadoka neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Kadoka’s Town Square.

Waubay neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Waubay’s Town Square.

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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.

Kadoka vs Waubay

Two towns, two different strengths

Where they differ most

Grades and rankings, side by side

What daily life feels like in each

231 miles apart

What matters to you?

Ask the people who live there

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