Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad Depot · National Register of Historic Places
Kadoka’s story
120 years in pictures
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1906Kadoka is settled
KadokaSD
A town of 372, settled in 1906. Public schools that outperform most of South Dakota.
Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
372
−17% since 2010
Household income
$44K
median
Median age
47.1
years
Jobs based here
221
Balanced
What makes Kadoka stand out
The thing Kadoka does most differently from other towns.
Small town
372 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Kadoka’s report card
Now in Kadoka
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Kadoka? Is a B+ for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Kadoka’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Kadoka. Another town gets a different order.
Schools
Kadoka’s public schools outperform 71% of South Dakota districts
The public schools Kadoka’s kids attend outperform 71% of South Dakota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
B+School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kadoka Elementary - 02 | PK–5 | 118 | B+ |
| Kadoka Middle School - 03 | 6–8 | 51 | B+ |
| Kadoka Area High School - 01 | 9–12 | 71 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within SD on state testsAll 3 schools →
Climate
Four seasons, hot summers
Kadoka has cold, snowy winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 12°, and about 38 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
38″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter14–36°
Spring34–59°
Summer58–85°
Fall36–62°
Sep 30
typical first frost
May 11
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Work & commute
About one in three working residents works right in Kadoka
About one in 3 of Kadoka’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Philip (9%), Interior (8%) and Pierre (5%). Half commute less than 20 miles.
30%work in town
Where working residents work
In Kadoka30%
Philip9%
Interior8%
Pierre5%
Rapid City5%
20 mi
median commute distance
221
jobs based in Kadoka
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Health
How healthy Kadoka is
Kadoka beats the South Dakota average on 2 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 15.
26 measures vs. South Dakota
2 better9 too close to call15 worse
| What stands out | Kadoka | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 15.1% | 18.8% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 79.7% | 75.9% |
| More adults with COPD | 11.4% | 6.7% |
Hans P Peterson Memorial Hospital - Cah
16.8 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 →
Natural hazards
High risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 60% of U.S. communities.
60risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesWildfire
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Landmarks
3 places in Kadoka on the National Register of Historic Places.
About Kadoka
City in South Dakota, United States
Kadoka is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 543 at the 2020 census. The town occupies about 2.3 square miles.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1906
- Population
- 543
- Area
- 2.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 2,467 ft
- ZIP code
- 57543