Adam and Minnie Royhl House · National Register of Historic Places
Arlington’s story
146 years in pictures
4 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1880Arlington is settled
ArlingtonSD
A town of 920, settled in 1880. Public schools that outperform most of South Dakota.
2 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Tony Webster · CC BY 2.0
Population
920
+0% since 2010
Typical home
$327K
+9.3% in a year
Household income
$71K
median
Median age
40.1
years
Jobs based here
296
A commuter town
What makes Arlington stand out
The 2 things Arlington does most differently from other towns.
Small town
920 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
DenverBangorArlington
Arlington’s report card
Now in Arlington
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Arlington? Is an A+ for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Arlington’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →63°
Cloudy
H 69° · L 59°
Local news
All →- Arlington vs Oldham-Ramona - Girls Varsity Volleyball 10/20/2026 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 26
- Arlington vs Hamlin - Girls Varsity Volleyball 10/19/2026 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 21
- McCook Central vs SCW - Boys Varsity Football 09/18/2026 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 19
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Arlington. Another town gets a different order.
Schools
Arlington’s public schools outperform 99% of South Dakota districts
The public schools Arlington’s kids attend outperform 99% of South Dakota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
A+School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington Elementary - 02 | K–6 | 152 | A+ |
| Arlington Jr. High - 03 | 7–8 | 47 | A+ |
| Arlington High School - 01 | 9–12 | 76 | B+ |
| Arlington Preschool - 04 | PK | 17 | Not graded |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within SD on state testsAll 4 schools →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Arlington
Most working residents leave Arlington for work: only 9% work in town. The top destinations are Brookings (21%), Sioux Falls (8%) and De Smet (6%). Half commute less than 19 miles.
9%work in town
Where working residents work
In Arlington9%
Brookings21%
Sioux Falls8%
De Smet6%
Madison5%
19 mi
median commute distance
296
jobs based in Arlington
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Natural hazards
Low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 30% of U.S. communities.
30risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Arlington has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 5°, and about 36 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
36″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter8–26°
Spring32–54°
Summer58–79°
Fall35–57°
Oct 2
typical first frost
May 3
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health
How healthy Arlington is
Arlington beats the South Dakota average on 3 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 2.
26 measures vs. South Dakota
3 better21 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Arlington | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 9.5% | 12.7% |
| More adults screened for colon cancer | 71% | 65.5% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11.2% | 9.2% |
Brookings Health System
18.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Housing
A typical Arlington home is worth about $327K
The typical Arlington home is worth about $327,000, up 9.3% in a year, close to the South Dakota typical home.
$327KZillow home value
Typical home value
Arlington$327K
South Dakota$322K
+9.3%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
A commuter town
91% of working residents leave Arlington for work
Where Arlington’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
296jobs based in Arlington
9%of working residents work in town
19 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Landmarks
4 places in Arlington on the National Register of Historic Places.
About Arlington
City in South Dakota, United States
Arlington is a city in Brookings and Kingsbury counties in the State of South Dakota. The population was 915 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1880
- Population
- 915
- Area
- 1.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,844 ft
- ZIP code
- 57212
- Area code
- 605
More about Arlington
Still missing for Arlington:archive photosupcoming events