2008 · Aurora Ballpark (c. 2008) · Wikimedia Commons
Aurora’s story
Aurora in pictures
4 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
AuroraSD
A town of 124. Healthier than 77% of U.S. towns.
Population
124
residents
Median home value
$425K
Census ACS
Household income
$94K
median
Median age
8.5
years
Jobs based here
15
A commuter town
What makes Aurora stand out
The thing Aurora does most differently from other towns.
Small town
124 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
StickneyBakerTruroDudleyAurora
Aurora’s report card
Now in Aurora
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Aurora? Is an A− for health right?
Your answer becomes a post in Aurora’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Aurora. Another town gets a different order.
Health
Healthier than 77% of U.S. towns
Aurora beats the South Dakota average on 0 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 4.
A−Health Grade
26 measures vs. South Dakota
0 better22 too close to call4 worse
| What stands out | Aurora | SD |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with heart disease | 8% | 6.8% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.6% | 9.2% |
| More adults with arthritis | 29.5% | 25.8% |
Douglas County Memorial Hospital-Cah
15.1 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
70th
percentile among SD towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Aurora
Most working residents leave Aurora for work: only 0% work in town. The top destinations are Plankinton (17%), Mitchell (15%) and Belford (8%). Half commute less than 21 miles.
0%work in town
Where working residents work
In Aurora0%
Plankinton17%
Mitchell15%
Belford8%
White Lake6%
21 mi
median commute distance
15
jobs based in Aurora
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Aurora has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 86°, a January night drops to 9°, and about 38 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
38″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter12–31°
Spring34–58°
Summer59–83°
Fall37–61°
Oct 5
typical first frost
May 3
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with cold waves at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 48% of U.S. communities.
48risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingDrought
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Aurora for work
Where Aurora’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
15jobs based in Aurora
0%of working residents work in town
21 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023