Alcester is a city in northern Union County, South Dakota, United States. It is part of the Sioux City, IA–NE–SD Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 820 at the 2020 census.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code57001

Area code605

Living in Alcester

Housing in Alcester

$95K Median sale price · Redfin, May 2026

The median sale price was $95,000 in May 2026.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Alcester

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Alcester for work: only 9% work in town. The top destinations are Sioux Falls (26%), Beresford (18%) and Sioux City (4%). Half commute less than 33 miles.

Sioux Falls

26%

Beresford

18%

Sioux City, IA

Yankton

9%Work in townlive and work in Alcester 33 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 355Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Alcester →

Health in Alcester

Compared with South Dakota

4better than SD·6worse

of 26 measures CDC estimates. The other 16 are too close to call.

Conditions 6▼ 6 close Habits 1▲ 3 close Care 2▲ 5 close Mind 1▲ 2 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

15.5%Fewer binge drinkersSD 18.8% · better 13.3%Fewer adults in frequent mental distressSD 15.3% · better 12.6%More adults who have had cancerSD 9.2% · worse

Care nearby

Hawarden Regional HealthcareHawarden · 7.7 mi · ER · rural critical access

Horizon Health - Alcester DentalAlcester · 0.6 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Alcester · CMS · HRSAHealth in Alcester →

Natural hazards in Alcester

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 41% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🌵 Drought

0Does Alcester flood?no paid flood claims on record 1Disasters that paid out herefederal disaster sent FEMA money to Alcester

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Alcester →

Climate in Alcester

Full climate →

Alcester has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 9°, and about 31 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

30° / 12°Winter

58° / 36°Spring

82° / 60°Summer

60° / 38°Fall

How much snow does Alcester get?About 31 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 4, with the last in spring around May 1.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.8° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Alcester →

Schools in Alcester

All Alcester schools →

School Grade C

The public schools Alcester’s kids attend trail 69% of South Dakota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

DistrictAlcester-Hudson School District 61-1Schools4

Alcester-Hudson Elementary - 04 C+Elementary · Grades K–6 · 166 students Alcester-Hudson Jr. High - 03 CMiddle · Grades 7–8 · 53 students Alcester-Hudson High School - 01 BHigh · Grades 9–12 · 99 students Alcester-Hudson Preschool - 05Prekindergarten · Grades PK · 33 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results, graded within SD. Ratings are from neighbors.