Hoover Store · National Register of Historic Places
Dexter Township’s story
Dexter Township in pictures
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →Dexter TownshipSD
A town of 186. Nearly 13.9% of it is conserved land.
Population
186
residents
Median home value
$277K
Census ACS
Household income
$76K
median
Median age
56.0
years
Jobs based here
3
A commuter town
What makes Dexter Township stand out
The thing Dexter Township does most differently from other towns.
Small town
186 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Germantown TownshipFuller TownshipEgeland TownshipEden TownshipDexter Township
Dexter Township’s report card
Now in Dexter Township
Be the first to start the conversation.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Dexter Township. Another town gets a different order.
Who lives here
43% of residents are 65 or older, and fewer college graduates
People 65 and older are 43% of residents (18% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 7% of residents (22% statewide). 11% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 32% across South Dakota.
56median age · SD 38
Dexter TownshipSouth DakotaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
23%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma4%
High school49%
Some college16%
Associate’s20%
Bachelor’s8%
Graduate3%
| Dexter Township | SD | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 14% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.2% | 11.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 1.6% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 5.4% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 6.5% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.4% | 10.7% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 7% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 22.6% | 11% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 20.4% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 4.3% | 6.8% | 10.4% |
| High school | 49.3% | 29% | 26% |
| Some college | 15.9% | 19.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 19.6% | 12.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 8% | 21.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 2.9% | 10% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 200, single groups can be off by several pointsBy the numbers →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Dexter Township
Most working residents leave Dexter Township for work: only 0% work in town. The top destinations are Watertown (50%), Sioux Falls (14%) and Florence (2%). Half commute less than 18 miles.
0%work in town
Where working residents work
In Dexter Township0%
Watertown50%
Sioux Falls14%
Florence2%
Clark2%
18 mi
median commute distance
3
jobs based in Dexter Township
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Dexter Township has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to 2°, and about 32 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
32″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter5–23°
Spring31–52°
Summer57–79°
Fall34–55°
Sep 28
typical first frost
May 7
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Outdoors
13.9% of Dexter Township is conserved land
8.2 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves.
13.9%conserved
13.9%
conserved · 5,372 of 38,605 acres
8.2 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Thompson WPA | — | 233 |
| 2. Moe WPA | — | 160 |
| 3. Neal WPA | — | 65 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Health
How healthy Dexter Township is
Dexter Township beats the South Dakota average on 0 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 1.
26 measures vs. South Dakota
0 better25 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Dexter Township | SD |
|---|---|---|
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.2% | 9.2% |
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System
16.1 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 46% of U.S. communities.
46risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Dexter Township for work
Where Dexter Township’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
3jobs based in Dexter Township
0%of working residents work in town
18 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
More about Dexter Township
Still missing for Dexter Township:a photo of Dexter Townshiplocal news coveragearchive photosupcoming events