Sample-Lindblaum House · National Register of Historic Places
Star’s story
Star in pictures
1 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →StarSD
A town of 98. Public schools that outperform most of South Dakota.
Population
98
residents
Median home value
$340K
Census ACS
Median age
40.4
years
What makes Star stand out
The thing Star does most differently from other towns.
Small town
98 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
IreneMarindahlDanevilleBethelRiversideStar
Star’s report card
Now in Star
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Star? Is a C− for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Star’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Star. Another town gets a different order.
Schools
Star’s public schools outperform 18% of South Dakota districts
The public schools Star’s kids attend trail 82% of South Dakota’s districts on state tests.
C−School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irene - Wakonda Elementary - 02 | PK–6 | 161 | C |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within SD on state testsAll 1 schools →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Star has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 10°, and about 31 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
31″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter13–31°
Spring36–58°
Summer61–83°
Fall38–61°
Oct 1
typical first frost
May 2
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Natural hazards
High risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 66% of U.S. communities.
66risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtTornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Health
How healthy Star is
Star beats the South Dakota average on 3 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 4.
26 measures vs. South Dakota
3 better19 too close to call4 worse
| What stands out | Star | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 7% | 8.8% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 80.9% | 75.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 12.2% | 9.2% |
Pioneer Memorial Hospital - Cah
8.8 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 →
Outdoors
0% of Star is conserved land
11 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves.
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 22,557 acres
11 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →