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Compare towns

Salem vs Miller

96 miles apart. The biggest differences: rent (+71% in Salem) and average commute (12 min in Miller).

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Salem, SDOne of the healthiest townsSouth Dakota · 1,216 people
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Miller, SDHomes around $199KSouth Dakota · 1,363 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.

SalemOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 73%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 31%of SD districts Housing$254K typical home21% below the SD typical home All about Salem →
MillerHomes around $199K
Housing$199K typical home38% below the SD typical home History17 archive photos & papers4 places on the National Register HealthHealthier than 69%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Miller →
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.

Rent+71%
Rent runs higher in Salem
Salem $965Miller $564
Average commute12 min
Miller has the shorter commute
Salem 23 minMiller 11 min
Property tax bill+37%
Tax bills are bigger in Salem
Salem $1,875Miller $1,373
Work in town+18 pts
More of Miller’s workers stay in town
Miller 34.6%Salem 16.6%
Growth since 2010+7.8 pts
Salem has grown faster since 2010
Salem -1.6%Miller -9.4%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $380 more a month in Salem

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.

Salem$1,570/mo
Typical home $254K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.12% · or rent about $965/mo · Housing →
Miller$1,190/mo
Typical home $199K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.88% · or rent about $564/mo · Housing →

The difference: $380 a month, about $4,600 a year, between Salem and Miller.

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
CSalemBetter than 31% of districts in the state BMillerBetter than 59% of districts in the state
Health
B+SalemHealthier than 73% of U.S. towns B+MillerHealthier than 69% of U.S. towns
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
SalemMiller
Snow a year31″44″
January low—7°F
July high—85°F
Growing season (days)—152d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)52nd43rd
Outdoors & history
SalemMiller
Trails—0 mi
Conserved land—0%
National Register places44
Archive photos—17
Famous people born here—6
Community
SalemMiller
Library hours a week—27 hrs
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

96 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

SalemSDMillerSD
Salem ↔ Miller96 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.

SalemMiller
People
Population 1,216Lowest 1,363Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -1.6%Highest SD: +8.9% -9.4%Lowest SD: +8.9%
Median age 39.6±6.8Lowest 4% above SD 41.9±8.4Highest 10% above SD
Miller and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 27.6%±4.1Highest SD: 24.2% 23.3%±5Lowest SD: 24.2%
Salem and Miller are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 23.1%±4Lowest SD: 18% 29.3%±3.4Highest SD: 18%
Miller and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 26.6%Lowest SD: 31.9% 28.1%Highest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.4%±0.9Lowest SD: 5% 4.5%±2.2Highest SD: 5%
Miller and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $74,881±$24kHighest about the SD average $57,500±$12kLowest 23% below SD
Salem and Miller are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $166,700±$14kHighest 35% below SD $155,200±$16kLowest 40% below SD
Salem and Miller are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $965±$101Highest about the SD average $564±$43Lowest 40% below SD
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,875Highest 31% below SD $1,373Lowest 50% below SD
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 42.9%±17.5Highest SD: 39.8% 34.2%±10.9Lowest SD: 39.8%
Salem and Miller are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 5.6%Lowest SD: 11.9% 7.6%Highest SD: 11.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 68%Highest SD: 68.6% 66.2%Lowest SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1974Highest 6 yrs older than SD 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than SD
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 23 minHighest 29% above SD 11 minLowest 38% below SD
Work from home 7%±3.9Highest SD: 9.7% 5%±3.1Lowest SD: 9.7%
Salem and Miller are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 16.6%Lowest 34.6%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 31.8 miHighest 14.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.71Lowest 1.01Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Sioux Falls (29%)Miller Township (7%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in MillerFew work in Salem
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 0.1 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.1 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 1Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 91.2Lowest 117Highest
Schools
School district McCook Central School District 43-7Miller School District 29-4
High school in town McCook Central High School - 01Miller High School - 01
Students per teacherat that high school 12.6Highest 10.8Lowest
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.

Salem neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Salem’s Town Square.

Miller neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Miller’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Salem and Miller

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Towns like Salem

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Clear Lake1,327 people · $163K homes
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Parkston1,874 people · $157K homes
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Platte1,161 people · $179K 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.

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