1884 · Tornado1884 · Wikimedia Commons
Howard’s story
Howard in pictures
4 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
- 1884Tornado1884
- 2004SDMap-doton-Howard
- 2012Free Workshop Aug 16 in Miner Co., SD - Cover Crops-Soil Qu…
HowardSD
A town of 943. A regional job hub with 567 jobs.
Population
943
−1.2% since 2010
Median home value
$101K
Census ACS
Household income
$60K
median
Median age
49.4
years
Jobs based here
567
A job hub
What makes Howard stand out
The 2 things Howard does most differently from other towns.
Small town
943 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Howard’s report card
Now in Howard
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Howard? Is an A− for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Howard’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Howard. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
About one in three working residents works right in Howard
About one in 3 of Howard’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Sioux Falls (15%), Madison (8%) and Mitchell (4%). Half commute less than 21 miles.
34%work in town
Where working residents work
In Howard34%
Sioux Falls15%
Madison8%
Mitchell4%
Howard3%
21 mi
median commute distance
567
jobs based in Howard
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Schools
Howard’s public schools outperform 79% of South Dakota districts
The public schools Howard’s kids attend outperform 79% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Elementary - 02 | PK–5 | 158 | B− |
| Howard Jr. High - 05 | 6–8 | 75 | B+ |
| Howard High School - 01 | 9–12 | 96 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within SD on state testsAll 3 schools →
Natural hazards
Low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 29% of U.S. communities.
29risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtCold waves
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Howard has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 6°, and about 36 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
36″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter9–28°
Spring34–56°
Summer59–81°
Fall36–59°
Oct 2
typical first frost
May 5
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health
How healthy Howard is
Howard beats the South Dakota average on 2 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 6.
26 measures vs. South Dakota
2 better18 too close to call6 worse
| What stands out | Howard | SD |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.2% | 75.9% |
| More adults getting cholesterol checked | 87.2% | 84.8% |
| More adults with heart disease | 9.1% | 6.8% |
Madison Regional Health System
20.3 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
A job hub
Every workday, about 456 people come to Howard for work
Where Howard’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
567jobs based in Howard
34%of working residents work in town
21 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Howard
City in South Dakota, United States
Howard is a city in Miner County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 848 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat and most populous city in Miner County.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 848
- Area
- 1.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,575 ft
- ZIP code
- 57349
- Area code
- 605