Pleasant’s story
Pleasant in pictures
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →PleasantSD
A town of 161. Nearly 24.2% of it is conserved land.
Population
161
residents
Median home value
$431K
Census ACS
Household income
$85K
median
Median age
20.6
years
Jobs based here
74
Balanced
What makes Pleasant stand out
The 2 things Pleasant does most differently from other towns.
Small town
161 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
LakeViennaWashingtonFoxtonDixonPleasant
Pleasant’s report card
Now in Pleasant
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Pleasant? Is a C for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Pleasant’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Pleasant. Another town gets a different order.
Outdoors
24.2% of Pleasant is conserved land
4.8 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves.
24.2%conserved
24.2%
conserved · 5,417 of 22,412 acres
4.8 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Schools
Pleasant’s public schools outperform 31% of South Dakota districts
The public schools Pleasant’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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayfield Colony Elementary - 04 | K–8 | 31 | A+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within SD on state testsAll 1 schools →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Pleasant has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 4°, and about 48 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
48″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter7–25°
Spring32–54°
Summer58–80°
Fall35–57°
Oct 5
typical first frost
May 5
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Pleasant
Most working residents leave Pleasant for work: only 3% work in town. The top destinations are Clark (26%), Watertown (14%) and Willow Lake (12%). Half commute less than 17 miles.
3%work in town
Where working residents work
In Pleasant3%
Clark26%
Watertown14%
Willow Lake12%
Brookings4%
17 mi
median commute distance
74
jobs based in Pleasant
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Natural hazards
Low risk, with cold waves at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 39% of U.S. communities.
39risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingHail
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Health
How healthy Pleasant is
Pleasant beats the South Dakota average on 0 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 1.
26 measures vs. South Dakota
0 better25 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Pleasant | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults seeing a dentist | 65.6% | 69.2% |
Avera De Smet Memorial Hospital - Cah
19.8 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 →