Gem’s story
Gem in pictures
1 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →GemSD
A town of 245.
Population
245
residents
Median home value
$346K
Census ACS
Household income
$74K
median
Median age
66.2
years
Jobs based here
18
A commuter town
Small town
245 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
BathWest HansonWarnerGem
Gem’s report card
Now in Gem
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The data
Ordered by what stands out in Gem. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Gem
Most working residents leave Gem for work: only 1% work in town. The top destinations are Aberdeen (47%), Warner (7%) and Groton (6%). Half commute less than 12 miles.
1%work in town
Where working residents work
In Gem1%
Aberdeen47%
Warner7%
Groton6%
Sioux Falls5%
12 mi
median commute distance
18
jobs based in Gem
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Gem has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 3°, and about 42 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
42″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter6–25°
Spring32–55°
Summer58–81°
Fall34–58°
Sep 26
typical first frost
May 9
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Natural hazards
Low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 38% of U.S. communities.
38risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
12
paid flood claims since 1997
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Health
How healthy Gem is
Gem beats the South Dakota average on 1 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 0.
26 measures vs. South Dakota
1 better25 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Gem | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 10.5% | 12.7% |
Sanford Medical Center Aberdeen
8.1 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 →
Outdoors
3.7% of Gem is conserved land
11 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves.
3.7%conserved
3.7%
conserved · 1,578 of 42,108 acres
11 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Gem for work
Where Gem’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
18jobs based in Gem
1%of working residents work in town
12 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023