The Town FilesYankton, South Dakota
City in Yankton County · population 15,411 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $222,700
- Household income
- $67,804
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 41.4
Yankton is a city of 15,411 people in Yankton County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $222,700, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks more vibrant than 98% of South Dakota towns, hipper than 96% of South Dakota towns, more walkable than 92% of South Dakota towns.
How Yankton 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 Yankton is worth $222,700, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $67,804, which is more affordable than 23% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $790 a month. 66.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Yankton | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $222,700 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $790 | $785 |
| Median household income | $67,804 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 66.3% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Yankton
| People | Yankton | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.0% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.2% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.1% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 13.3 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.8% | 86.7% |
Weather in Yankton
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 10.4°F. About 28.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.1 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 158 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Yankton since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 6, 1975 about 7.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 3 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 29, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 99 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 29, 2017.
Severe weather in Yankton County since 1996
Yankton County has been included in 16 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 Yankton County
Yankton County had 13,091 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,512 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Yankton itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Public schools in Yankton
6 public schools with 3,086 students, about 17.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yankton High School - 01 | 9-12 | 962 | 18.5 |
| Yankton Middle School - 02 | 6-8 | 613 | 16.6 |
| Lincoln Elementary - 04 | K-5 | 419 | 15.5 |
| Beadle Elementary - 03 | K-5 | 416 | 16.0 |
| Webster Elementary - 06 | PK-5 | 389 | 21.6 |
| Stewart Elementary - 05 | K-5 | 287 | 13.7 |
Towns near Yankton
- Vermillion, SD24.8 mi · 11,695 people · home $219,000
Yankton questions
Is Yankton, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Yankton scores better for retirees than 31% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 6%. 22.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.4).
How much does a house cost in Yankton?
The median owner-occupied home in Yankton is valued at $222,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,804, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $790 a month.
What is the weather like in Yankton?
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 10.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.7 inches of precipitation a year and 38.1 inches of snow.
Does Yankton get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Yankton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 6, 1975. 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)