The Town FilesPierre, South Dakota
City in Hughes County · population 14,091 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $230,700
- Household income
- $77,672
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 39.4
Pierre is a city of 14,091 people in Hughes County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $230,700, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks hipper than 93% of South Dakota towns, more vibrant than 92% of South Dakota towns, more walkable than 90% of South Dakota towns.
How Pierre 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 Pierre is worth $230,700, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $77,672, which is more affordable than 38% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $983 a month. 68.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pierre | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $230,700 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $983 | $785 |
| Median household income | $77,672 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 68.6% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Pierre
| People | Pierre | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.2% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.0% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.1% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 9.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 13.3 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.8% | 86.7% |
Weather in Pierre
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 9.3°F. About 20.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.2 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 164 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pierre since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 23, 1973 about 2.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 16, 1997.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 98 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 18, 2023.
Severe weather in Hughes County since 1996
Hughes County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4938: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
| June 7, 2019 | Flood | DR-4440: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| July 30, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4233: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Hughes County
Hughes County had 10,867 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,739 a year. Unemployment was 1.6% in 2023; in Pierre itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Public schools in Pierre
5 public schools with 2,688 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| T F Riggs High School - 01 | 9-12 | 808 | 16.8 |
| Georgia Morse Middle School - 02 | 6-8 | 681 | 17.5 |
| Buchanan Elementary - 03 | K-5 | 422 | 15.6 |
| Kennedy Elementary - 08 | K-5 | 394 | 15.2 |
| Jefferson Elementary - 06 | K-5 | 383 | 13.2 |
Pierre questions
Is Pierre, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pierre scores better for retirees than 38% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 34%. 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.4).
How much does a house cost in Pierre?
The median owner-occupied home in Pierre is valued at $230,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,672, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $983 a month.
What is the weather like in Pierre?
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 9.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.2 inches of precipitation a year and 37.2 inches of snow.
Does Pierre get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pierre since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 23, 1973. 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)