The Town FilesDell Rapids, South Dakota
City in Minnehaha County · population 3,996 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $301,700
- Household income
- $100,170
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 39.3
Dell Rapids is a city of 3,996 people in Minnehaha County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $301,700, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks easier by car than 97% of South Dakota towns, more upscale than 92% of South Dakota towns, more walkable than 89% of South Dakota towns.
How Dell Rapids ranks
Percentile among South Dakota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Dakota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Dell Rapids is worth $301,700, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $100,170, which is more affordable than 38% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $962 a month. 82.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dell Rapids | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $301,700 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $962 | $785 |
| Median household income | $100,170 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 82.3% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dell Rapids
| People | Dell Rapids | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.9% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.4% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 11.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.0% | 86.7% |
Weather in Dell Rapids
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 6.4°F. About 29.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.5 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dell Rapids since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 5, 2008 about 4.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 5, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 22, 1964.
Severe weather in Minnehaha County since 1996
Minnehaha County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4807: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| June 29, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4656: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
| November 18, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4469: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Minnehaha County
Minnehaha County had 138,556 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,100 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Dell Rapids itself the ACS puts it at 0.3%.
Public schools in Dell Rapids
3 public schools with 973 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dell Rapids Elementary - 02 | K-4 | 379 | 13.5 |
| Dell Rapids High School - 01 | 9-12 | 314 | 15.7 |
| Dell Rapids Middle School - 03 | 5-8 | 280 | 14.0 |
Towns near Dell Rapids
- Brandon, SD17.3 mi · 11,048 people · home $336,600
- Hartford, SD17.8 mi · 3,354 people · home $257,700
- Sioux Falls, SD19.7 mi · 192,517 people · home $292,400
- Madison, SD23.3 mi · 6,191 people · home $193,100
- Pipestone, MN23.3 mi · 4,215 people · home $114,100
- Tea, SD26.1 mi · 5,598 people · home $351,100
- Harrisburg, SD27.0 mi · 6,732 people · home $312,200
- Luverne, MN27.6 mi · 4,946 people · home $208,000
Dell Rapids questions
Is Dell Rapids, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dell Rapids scores better for retirees than 50% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 37%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.3).
How much does a house cost in Dell Rapids?
The median owner-occupied home in Dell Rapids is valued at $301,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,170, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $962 a month.
What is the weather like in Dell Rapids?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 6.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.6 inches of precipitation a year and 41.5 inches of snow.
Does Dell Rapids get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dell Rapids since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 5, 2008. The typical South Dakota town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)