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Tea, SD

Photo: Wikipedia

Tea, SD

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Demographics

HomogeneousSimpson's Diversity Index: 15
Population6,339
Foreign Born0.0%
Population Density1,629people per mi²
Median Age29.7 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
GrowingSince 2010, this city's population has grown with relatively minor shifts in 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

101/100

1% above national average

A

The Real Cost of Living in Tea, South Dakota

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $18k$33k
Comfortable $59k$87k
Luxury $127k+$197k+
Elite (Top 5%) $150k+$232k+
Affordability Ratio

120%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean83%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
6
Positive
3
Poor
1
Negative
0

Groceries

3 within 10 miles

5.6mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

7.1mi

Airport

Marv Skie–Lincoln County Airport

1.8mi

Post Office

USPS — Sioux Falls, SD

6.2mi

Critical Amenities

Golf4Nearest 3.2 mi
Camping20Nearest 12.3 mi
Marina0 
Winery0 
Ice Rink1Nearest 8.2 mi
Gun Range6Nearest 2.7 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
$105k+5.5%
39% above US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$1.8M
174% above US avg
College Educated
41.4%
18% above US avg
WFH
16.0%
12% above US avg
Homeownership
79.3%
21% above US avg
Median Home
$305k
8% above US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
A
Very Safe

Lower crime rates than 85% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
9.5
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−15.4%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+3.2%
Homicide
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Robbery
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
1.20 / 1k Residents47% below state avg

Property Crime

5yr−34.1%
Burglary
1.69 / 1k Residents13% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
5.30 / 1k Residents47% below state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
0.84 / 1k Residents35% below 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 Tea, 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 Zone5A~-17°F min
Growing Season176 days211 frost-free
Annual Rainfall29.0"
Elevation1,490 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+
Great1182 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak1,629/sq mi
Fallout Danger
C
Weak4 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
D+
WeakTornado
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 384 mi · coast 948 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$41.7M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityOmaha486k people are 158 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital186 miPierre, SD
Nearest Prison10 mi2 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T08:07:44.000Z

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