Hoffelt Drug Store · National Register of Historic Places
Estelline’s story
Estelline in pictures
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →EstellineSD
A town of 831. Public schools that outperform most of South Dakota.
Population
831
−2.5% since 2010
Median home value
$142K
Census ACS
Household income
$78K
median
Median age
34.1
years
Jobs based here
249
A commuter town
What makes Estelline stand out
The thing Estelline does most differently from other towns.
Small town
831 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Estelline’s report card
Now in Estelline
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Estelline? Is a C for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Estelline’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →66°
Cloudy
H 72° · L 57°
Local news
All →- Arlington vs Estelline - Girls Varsity Volleyball 09/10/2026 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 10
- Two Hamlin County Men Indicted on Sexual Assault Charges Involving Minorsmykxlg.com · Aug 31
- Estelline farm’s decade of regenerative agriculture research draws White House attentiondakotanewsnow.com · Aug 5
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Estelline. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
About one in nine working residents works right in Estelline
Most working residents leave Estelline for work: only 11% work in town. The top destinations are Watertown (19%), Brookings (11%) and Sioux Falls (11%). Half commute less than 24 miles.
11%work in town
Where working residents work
In Estelline11%
Watertown19%
Brookings11%
Sioux Falls11%
Castlewood4%
24 mi
median commute distance
249
jobs based in Estelline
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Schools
Estelline’s public schools outperform 31% of South Dakota districts
The public schools Estelline’s kids attend trail 69% of South Dakota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.
CSchool Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estelline Elementary - 02 | PK–5 | 149 | B− |
| Estelline Middle School - 03 | 6–8 | 60 | C− |
| Estelline High School - 01 | 9–12 | 83 | D |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within SD on state testsAll 3 schools →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Estelline has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 3°, and about 36 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
36″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter7–25°
Spring32–54°
Summer57–79°
Fall34–57°
Oct 1
typical first frost
May 6
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health
How healthy Estelline is
Estelline beats the South Dakota average on 1 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 1.
26 measures vs. South Dakota
1 better24 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Estelline | SD |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 79% | 75.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11% | 9.2% |
Sanford Clear Lake Medical Center
17.3 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 58% of U.S. communities.
58risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
7
paid flood claims since 1997
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Housing
Homes in Estelline sell for about $262K
The median sale price was $262,000 in February 2026.
$262Kmedian sale price
2
homes sold in February
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
A commuter town
89% of working residents leave Estelline for work
Where Estelline’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
249jobs based in Estelline
11%of working residents work in town
24 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Estelline
City in South Dakota, United States
Estelline is a city in Hamlin County, South Dakota, United States. It is part of the Watertown, South Dakota Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 749 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 749
- Area
- 0.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,654 ft
- ZIP code
- 57234
- Area code
- 605