The Town FilesTea, South Dakota
City in Lincoln County · population 5,598 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $351,100
- Household income
- $120,139
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 38
- Median age
- 30.6
Tea is a city of 5,598 people in Lincoln County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $351,100, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks more upscale than 98% of South Dakota towns, better for young professionals than 85% of South Dakota towns, more vibrant than 85% of South Dakota towns.
How Tea 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 Tea is worth $351,100, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $120,139, which is more affordable than 45% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $1,220 a month. 79.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tea | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $351,100 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $1,220 | $785 |
| Median household income | $120,139 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 79.7% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 2004 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Tea
| People | Tea | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.6 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 5.5% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 36.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.1% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.7% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 9.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 19.7% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.7% | 86.7% |
Weather in Tea
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 45.1 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
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tea since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 19, 1954 about 5.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 30, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 209 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 13, 1997.
Severe weather in Lincoln County since 1996
Lincoln 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 |
| 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 |
| June 7, 2019 | Flood | DR-4440: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lincoln County
Lincoln County had 29,694 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,125 a year. Unemployment was 1.6% in 2023; in Tea itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Public schools in Tea
5 public schools with 2,146 students, about 17.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tea Area High School - 03 | 9-12 | 670 | 19.1 |
| Tea Area Middle School - 02 | 6-8 | 556 | 17.9 |
| Tea Area Legacy Elementary - 01 | K-5 | 532 | 17.7 |
| Tea Area Venture Elementary - 06 | K-5 | 388 | 14.9 |
| Tea Area Preschool - 07 | PK-PK | — | — |
Towns near Tea
- Harrisburg, SD5.8 mi · 6,732 people · home $312,200
- Sioux Falls, SD7.5 mi · 192,517 people · home $292,400
- Hartford, SD12.7 mi · 3,354 people · home $257,700
- Brandon, SD15.3 mi · 11,048 people · home $336,600
- Canton, SD15.9 mi · 3,066 people · home $191,400
- Dell Rapids, SD26.1 mi · 3,996 people · home $301,700
Tea questions
Is Tea, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tea scores better for retirees than 7% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 14%. 5.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.6).
How much does a house cost in Tea?
The median owner-occupied home in Tea is valued at $351,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $120,139, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,220 a month.
What is the weather like in Tea?
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 45.1 inches of snow.
Does Tea get tornadoes?
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tea since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 19, 1954. 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)