The Town FilesSummerset, South Dakota
City in Meade County · population 2,972 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $368,300
- Household income
- $119,271
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 35.1
Summerset is a city of 2,972 people in Meade County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $368,300, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks quieter than 81% of South Dakota towns.
How Summerset 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 Summerset is worth $368,300, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $119,271, which is more affordable than 30% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $1,288 a month. 78.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Summerset | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $368,300 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $1,288 | $785 |
| Median household income | $119,271 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 78.7% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 2007 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Summerset
| People | Summerset | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.1 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.2% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 29.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.4% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.6% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 12.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 19.7 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.7% | 86.7% |
Weather in Summerset
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 13.2°F. About 18.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.1 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Summerset since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 11, 1991 about 6.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 23, 1998.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 432 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 1, 2015.
Severe weather in Meade County since 1996
Meade County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
| October 7, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4467: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4463: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| February 1, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4298: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Meade County
Meade County had 8,600 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,255 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Summerset itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Summerset
1 public school with 422 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stagebarn Middle School - 10 | 5-8 | 422 | 14.1 |
Towns near Summerset
- Blackhawk, SD2.9 mi · 3,026 people · home $273,300
- Rapid City, SD10.4 mi · 74,703 people · home $299,400
- Rapid Valley, SD13.9 mi · 8,098 people · home $255,500
- Box Elder, SD14.1 mi · 11,746 people · home $302,100
- Sturgis, SD17.0 mi · 7,020 people · home $271,200
- Lead, SD23.8 mi · 2,982 people · home $189,400
Summerset questions
Is Summerset, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Summerset scores better for retirees than 40% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 81%. 8.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.1).
How much does a house cost in Summerset?
The median owner-occupied home in Summerset is valued at $368,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $119,271, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,288 a month.
What is the weather like in Summerset?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 13.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 18.8 inches of precipitation a year and 36.1 inches of snow.
Does Summerset get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Summerset since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 11, 1991. 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)