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

WaubayKadoka

Snow a year36″38″

January low4°F 8°F

July high82°F 88°F

Growing season (days)164d 132d

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

Outdoors & history

WaubayKadoka

Trails0 mi —

Conserved land1%—

Settled—1906

National Register places—3

Community

WaubayKadoka

Library hours a week33 hrs 23 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.

WaubaySD KadokaSD

Waubay ↔ Kadoka231 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

WaubayKadoka

People

Population 337Lowest 372Highest

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

Median age 53.3±10.2Highest 40% above SD 47.1±13.6Lowest 24% 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 21.1%±16.6Highest SD: 24.2% 16.7%±10Lowest 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+ 40.1%±9.2Highest SD: 18% 28.5%±2.5Lowest 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+ 24.8%Highest SD: 31.9% 19.7%Lowest SD: 31.9%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.5%±3.6Highest SD: 5% 0.5%±2.8Lowest 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 $36,389±$19kLowest 52% below SD $43,750±$8kHighest 42% 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 $603±$61Highest 36% below SD $413±$308Lowest 56% 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 $1,500Lowest 45% below SD $1,641Highest 40% below SD

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 16.7%±46.7Lowest SD: 39.8% 26.9%±33.7Highest 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 24.3%Highest SD: 11.9% 12.7%Lowest SD: 11.9%

Housing

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

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

Getting to work

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

Work from home 10%±12.3Highest SD: 9.7% 0%±5.8Lowest 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 9.2%Lowest 29.6%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 30.8 miHighest 19.8 miLowest

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

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

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in KadokaFew work in Waubay

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 1%Highest 0%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 0.4 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.2 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Highest 0Lowest

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

Schools

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

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

Students per teacherat that high school 10.7Highest 7.6Lowest

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.

Waubay neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Waubay’s Town Square.

Kadoka neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Kadoka’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Waubay and Kadoka

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Waubay

+ Compare

Waubay Township653 people · $146K homes

+ Compare

Central Point Township85 people · $528K homes

Towns like Waubay

+ Compare

Kimball457 people · $153K homes

+ Compare

Lake Preston596 people · $130K homes

+ Compare

Philip571 people · $182K homes

+ Compare

Presho313 people · $163K 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.

Waubay vs Kadoka

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

Set another town beside Waubay and Kadoka

Bordering Waubay

Towns like Waubay

Post to Waubay

Check your email