The Town FilesHartford, South Dakota
City in Minnehaha County · population 3,354 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $257,700
- Household income
- $99,893
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 39.5
Hartford is a city of 3,354 people in Minnehaha County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $257,700, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks easier by car than 98% of South Dakota towns, more upscale than 94% of South Dakota towns, better for families than 92% of South Dakota towns.
How Hartford 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 Hartford is worth $257,700, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $99,893, which is more affordable than 54% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $938 a month. 76.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hartford | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $257,700 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $938 | $785 |
| Median household income | $99,893 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 76.8% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1997 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hartford
| People | Hartford | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.7% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.3% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.5% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 12.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 17.3 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in Hartford
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 7.4°F. About 28.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.4 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hartford since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 17, 2014 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 31, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 94 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 13, 1997.
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 Hartford itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Public schools in Hartford
3 public schools with 973 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Central High School - 01 | 9-12 | 398 | 17.3 |
| West Central Middle School - 04 | 6-8 | 302 | 15.9 |
| West Central Hartford Elementary - 05 | K-2 | 273 | 13.7 |
Towns near Hartford
- Sioux Falls, SD11.6 mi · 192,517 people · home $292,400
- Tea, SD12.7 mi · 5,598 people · home $351,100
- Harrisburg, SD17.1 mi · 6,732 people · home $312,200
- Brandon, SD17.7 mi · 11,048 people · home $336,600
- Dell Rapids, SD17.8 mi · 3,996 people · home $301,700
- Madison, SD28.0 mi · 6,191 people · home $193,100
- Canton, SD28.1 mi · 3,066 people · home $191,400
Hartford questions
Is Hartford, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hartford scores better for retirees than 36% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 38%. 17.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in Hartford?
The median owner-occupied home in Hartford is valued at $257,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $99,893, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $938 a month.
What is the weather like in Hartford?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 7.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.3 inches of precipitation a year and 41.4 inches of snow.
Does Hartford get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hartford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 17, 2014. 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)