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Dell Rapids, SD

Photo: Wikipedia

Dell Rapids, SD

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Demographics

HomogeneousSimpson's Diversity Index: 15
Population3,947
Foreign Born0.3%
Population Density1,751people per mi²
Median Age39.7 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
B+
Good

Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

88/100

12% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Dell Rapids, South Dakota

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $15k$28k
Comfortable $55k$81k
Luxury $116k+$180k+
Elite (Top 5%) $137k+$212k+
Affordability Ratio

125%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A-
Hood Index scan area
Premium Lean75%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
2
Positive
4
Poor
1
Negative
0

Groceries

0 within 10 miles

15.9mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

0.5mi

Airport

Flandreau Municipal Airport - 4P3

13.5mi

Post Office

USPS — Brandon, SD

17.7mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

Nearest private club or country club.

Golf1Nearest 1.5 mi
Camping20Nearest 13.3 mi
Marina0Nearest 16.6 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0Nearest 20.4 mi
Gun Range0Nearest 13.8 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
B
Good

An upper-middle-class area. Household wealth, education levels, and homeownership run ahead of national benchmarks.

Median HHI
$101k+13.8%
35% above US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$1.6M
142% above US avg
College Educated
36.2%
3% above US avg
WFH
7.6%
47% below US avg
Homeownership
81.1%
24% above US avg
Median Home
$284k
1% above US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
B-
Safe

Generally safer than 61% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
15.7
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−20.3%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−20.4%
Homicide
0.03 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Robbery
0.17 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Aggravated Assault
2.29 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg

Property Crime

5yr−20.1%
Burglary
1.50 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Larceny-Theft
9.94 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.30 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+15Solidly Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Dell Rapids, South Dakota
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Inherited from parent state — no local data available.

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B+
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
B+
Good8.4% of income
Property Rights
B
GoodIJ Grade B
Firearm Rights
A-
GreatFPC Grade A-
Homeschooling
A-
GoodLow regulation

Energy independence: Importer (35% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A-
OpenFarm sales legal
Gambling Laws
A
Broadly OpenCasinos · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
C+
LimitedMedical only

Homesteading

Hardiness Zone4B~-22°F min
Growing Season170 days206 frost-free
Annual Rainfall27.8"
Elevation1,512 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
B-
Defensible

Workable tactical position. Some exposure to population density or targets, but generally defensible in a crisis.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
A+
Great1177 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak1,751/sq mi
Fallout Danger
B
Fair4 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorTornado
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 358 mi · coast 973 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$103.7M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityOmaha486k people are 182 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital185 miPierre, SD
Nearest Prison18 mi2 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T04:54:00.000Z

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