Most working residents leave Kennebec for work: only 4% work in town. The top destinations are Presho (11%), Oacoma (8%) and Pierre (8%). Half commute less than 27 miles.

Presho

11%

Oacoma

Pierre

Chamberlain

4%Work in townlive and work in Kennebec 27 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 63Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Kennebec →

Health in Kennebec

Compared with South Dakota

1better than SD·1worse

of 26 measures CDC estimates. The other 24 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▼ 11 close Habits all close Care 1▲ 6 close Mind all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

73.9%More adults seeing a dentistSD 69.2% · better 10.6%More adults who have had cancerSD 9.2% · worse

Care nearby

Sanford Chamberlain Medical CenterChamberlain · 28 mi · ER · rural critical access

Access Health - KennebecKennebec · 0 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Kennebec · CMS · HRSAHealth in Kennebec →

Natural hazards in Kennebec

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 85% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🧊 Hail

8Does Kennebec flood?paid flood claims since 1999 NoneDisasters that paid out hereof 14 declared for Lyman County

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Kennebec →

Climate in Kennebec

Full climate →

Kennebec has cold, snowy winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 9°, and about 40 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

33° / 12°Winter

59° / 33°Spring

85° / 59°Summer

62° / 36°Fall

How much snow does Kennebec get?About 40 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Sep 28, with the last in spring around May 12.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.2° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Kennebec →

Schools in Kennebec

All Kennebec schools →

School Grade C

The public schools Kennebec’s kids attend trail 69% of South Dakota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

DistrictLyman School District 42-1Schools1

Lyman Elementary - 04 C+Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 171 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results, graded within SD. Ratings are from neighbors.