State index

South Dakota state guide

Compare large South Dakota cities by 2025 Census population, young-grad fit, BLS state unemployment, schooling access, cost pressure, commute, and safety-check notes. The current South Dakota subset includes 10 Midwest city pages with a combined 2025 population estimate of 445,658.

Open Sioux Falls Search South Dakota

State signal

Box Elder, South Dakota has the strongest verified population-growth signal in this South Dakota subset at +17.56% since the 2020 estimates base. For recent grads, also compare fit score, BLS state unemployment, schooling access, cost pressure, safety checks, and commute mode before signing a lease.

City	Catalog	Grad fit	Median rent	Median income	2025 population	City unemployment	Growth	Jobs	Cost
Sioux Falls, South Dakota	State starter	88/100	$1,035	$75,970	213,748	2.5%	+10.90%	strong	rent-friendly
Rapid City, South Dakota	South Dakota coverage	80/100	$1,109	$70,870	80,589	2.6%	+7.83%	strong	rent watch
Aberdeen, South Dakota	South Dakota coverage	72/100	$762	$64,405	27,961	3.7%	-1.82%	strong	rent-friendly
Brookings, South Dakota	South Dakota coverage	85/100	$889	$63,493	25,355	4.5%	+8.45%	strong	rent-friendly
Watertown, South Dakota	South Dakota coverage	77/100	$942	$69,600	23,736	1.8%	+4.78%	strong	rent-friendly
Yankton, South Dakota	South Dakota coverage	77/100	$790	$67,804	15,816	2.0%	+2.44%	strong	rent-friendly
Mitchell, South Dakota	South Dakota coverage	71/100	$851	$58,620	15,756	1.0%	+0.50%	strong	rent-friendly
Huron, South Dakota	South Dakota coverage	74/100	$888	$61,452	14,607	2.6%	+2.47%	strong	rent-friendly
Spearfish, South Dakota	South Dakota coverage	87/100	$963	$65,688	14,154	2.2%	+15.91%	strong	rent-friendly
Box Elder, South Dakota	South Dakota coverage	80/100	$1,491	$73,008	13,936	4.9%	+17.56%	strong	rent stretched