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Milbank, SD

Photo: Wikipedia

Milbank, SD

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Demographics

Predominantly WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 24
Population3,513
Foreign Born8.9%
Population Density1,266people per mi²
Median Age42.3 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
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

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

48/100

52% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Milbank, South Dakota

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $10k$18k
Comfortable $31k$46k
Luxury $106k+$164k+
Elite (Top 5%) $149k+$230k+
Affordability Ratio

127%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean88%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
10
Positive
12
Poor
2
Negative
1

Groceries

3 within 10 miles

1.3mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

1.1mi

Airport

Helipad Hospital

1.2mi

Post Office

USPS — Milbank, SD

0.3mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

Nearest private club or country club.

Golf1Nearest 3 mi
Camping20Nearest 12.6 mi
Marina0 
Winery0 
Ice Rink0Nearest 62.6 mi
Gun Range1Nearest 3.8 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
D+
Soft

A below-average socioeconomic profile. Incomes, home values, and educational attainment trail the U.S., with higher poverty and unemployment.

Median HHI
$58k-7.6%
22% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$968k
48% above US avg
College Educated
34.3%
2% below US avg
WFH
11.0%
23% below US avg
Homeownership
76.3%
17% above US avg
Median Home
$161k
43% below 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 Milbank, 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 Season165 days203 frost-free
Annual Rainfall24.9"
Elevation1,148 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
A-
Resilient

Strong survivability profile. Good buffer from population centers, with manageable environmental and tactical risks.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
A+
Great1182 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak1,266/sq mi
Fallout Danger
A+
Great0 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
A-
GoodCold Wave
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 263 mi · coast 1067 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$10.7M/yrfor the county

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T09:24:09.000Z

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