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SDSouth Dakota rankings

Top vacation-home towns in South Dakota

Ranked by the share of all homes held for seasonal, recreational or occasional use: lake houses, ski condos and summer cottages. 37 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Map of Lead 1 Lead 9.4% Home value $189,400 Map of Winner 2 Winner 7.4% Home value $106,100 Sturgis 3 Sturgis 3.7% Home value $271,200
#TownSeasonal homesHome valuePopulation
1 Map of Lead Lead3,006 people 9.4% $189,400 3,006
2 Map of Winner Winner2,905 people 7.4% $106,100 2,905
3 Sturgis Sturgis7,086 people 3.7% $271,200 7,086
4 Spearfish Spearfish12,930 people 3.6% $346,200 12,930
5 Watertown Watertown23,044 people 2.4% $229,400 23,044
6 Pierre13,948 people 2.2% $230,700 13,948
7 Chamberlain2,588 people 2% $224,300 2,588
8 Brookings23,948 people 1.9% $265,500 23,948
9 Belle Fourche5,804 people 1.9% $222,500 5,804
10 Map of Huron Huron14,385 people 1.6% $159,000 14,385
11 Map of Rapid City Rapid City77,946 people 1.5% $299,400 77,946
12 Vermillion Vermillion11,878 people 1.2% $219,000 11,878
13 Split RockMinnehaha County · 3,143 people 0.9% $499,600 3,143
14 Yankton15,540 people 0.7% $222,700 15,540
15 Map of Harrisburg Harrisburg8,519 people 0.6% $312,200 8,519
16 Map of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls201,469 people 0.4% $292,400 201,469
17 Box Elder Box Elder12,902 people 0.4% $302,100 12,902
18 Sisseton2,670 people 0.4% $109,200 2,670
19 Aberdeen28,189 people 0% $217,300 28,189
20 Map of Mitchell Mitchell15,649 people 0% $192,200 15,649
21 Map of Brandon Brandon10,996 people 0% $336,600 10,996
22 Rapid Valley Rapid Valley6,975 people 0% $255,500 6,975
23 Map of Tea Tea6,786 people 0% $351,100 6,786
24 Map of Madison Madison6,094 people 0% $193,100 6,094
25 Big SiouxUnion County · 4,917 people 0% $502,200 4,917
26 Dakota Dunes3,936 people 0% $565,600 3,936
27 Dell Rapids Dell Rapids3,905 people 0% $301,700 3,905
28 Hot Springs Hot Springs3,548 people 0% $202,600 3,548
29 Milbank3,525 people 0% $155,000 3,525
30 Map of Hartford Hartford3,478 people 0% $257,700 3,478
31 Map of North Sioux City North Sioux City3,045 people 0% $269,800 3,045
32 Canton Canton3,033 people 0% $191,400 3,033
33 Map of Summerset Summerset3,022 people 0% $368,300 3,022
34 Map of Blackhawk Blackhawk2,934 people 0% $273,300 2,934
35 Mobridge2,932 people 0% $136,800 2,932
36 Map of Colonial Pine Hills Colonial Pine Hills2,609 people 0% $406,500 2,609
37 Elk Point Elk Point2,537 people 0% $248,500 2,537

How this ranking works

We rank every town by the share of all homes held for seasonal, recreational or occasional use: lake houses, ski condos and summer cottages. The town with the highest figure ranks #1. For comparison, the figure for South Dakota as a whole is 3.2%.

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states

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