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Statewide · Property tax · ACS 2024

South Dakota Property Taxes

The average South Dakota homeowner pays $2,724 a year at an effective rate of 1.06%. That bill is 37% above the U.S. median bill. Compare 66 counties below.

$2,724
Avg median tax
1.06%
Effective rate
#18 of 51
U.S. rank (burden)
66
Counties

South Dakota homeowners pay a median of $2,724 a year in property tax, an effective rate of 1.06%, the 18th-highest burden of 51 U.S. jurisdictions (50 states and DC).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2024), the median South Dakota homeowner pays $2,724 a year on a home worth $257,400, an effective rate of 1.06%. The bill runs 37% above the $1,993 national median. County medians range $199 (Oglala Lakota County) to $3,990 (Lincoln County) across 66 counties.

What the statewide average misses

County medians in South Dakota run from $199 in Oglala Lakota County to $3,990 (Lincoln County). That range is why a statewide figure is a starting point, not a parcel-level estimate.

$199–$3,990 (Lincoln County)
County median-bill range
1.08%
Home-weighted county rate
60%
Homes in the eight largest counties

County medians come from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2024. The statewide effective rate in the hero is median tax divided by median home value.

The average median property tax in South Dakota is $2,724/year, which is 37% above the national average of $1,993. The average effective tax rate is 1.06% on a median home value of $257,400. Taxes range from $199 in Oglala Lakota County to $3,990 (Lincoln County).

Read the state signal first

What the data changes in South Dakota

A rate compares places with different home values. The annual bill shows a typical dollar amount. County spread shows why neither is a parcel estimate.

The clearest local difference

County bills span a wide range

Across 66 measured counties, the published median runs from $199 in Oglala Lakota County to $3,990 (Lincoln County). Local school levies, county bonds, municipal overlays, and assessment practice create this within-state spread.

This page is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Figures describe median homeowner households reported to the Census Bureau. Individual bills can differ with assessed value, exemptions, special districts, and local overlays. Confirm current rates with your county assessor or a qualified professional before making a decision.

State Average vs National Average

Median Annual Tax
$2,724
+37% vs US avg
Median Home Value
$257,400
+13% vs US avg
Effective Tax Rate
1.06%
+15% vs US avg

Rate-band peers near South Dakota

Nearest ACS 2024 jurisdictions by effective rate (not geography). Each row names another state so South Dakota's 1.06% rate is read against real neighbors such as Massachusetts and Maine.

Peer state Effective rate Vs South Dakota Median bill
Massachusetts
Also open Massachusetts for county spread
1.07% Massachusetts nearly matches South Dakota $5,992
Maine
Also open Maine for county spread
1.02% Maine nearly matches South Dakota $3,036
Minnesota
Also open Minnesota for county spread
1.02% Minnesota nearly matches South Dakota $3,357
Alaska
Also open Alaska for county spread
1.11% Alaska runs 0.05 pts above South Dakota $3,901
North Dakota
Also open North Dakota for county spread
0.99% North Dakota runs 0.07 pts below South Dakota $2,468
Maryland
Also open Maryland for county spread
0.97% Maryland runs 0.09 pts below South Dakota $4,093

Nationwide states with similar effective rate & median bill

Two PlainPropertyTax-derived comparison paths for South Dakota, excluding South Dakota itself so the link neighborhoods are not self-referential. Median-bill peers exclude the effective-rate peer set so the two axes stay disjoint.

Similar effective rate

Nearest other states by ACS effective rate. South Dakota: 1.06%.

Similar median bill

Nearest other states by ACS median annual tax. South Dakota: $2,724/yr. Rate peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.

Where South Dakota sits among U.S. jurisdictions

Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value) across the 50 states and DC, ACS 2024.

Where South Dakota sits among U.S. jurisdictions

Effective rate · ACS 2024 · 50 states and DC

1.06% more affordable than 33% of 51 U.S. jurisdictions

Show national distribution This state 0.00% 2.50% every U.S. jurisdiction, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more U.S. jurisdictions. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2024

South Dakota has a higher effective property tax rate than 66% of U.S. jurisdictions (the 50 states and DC), ranking #18 of 51 for property tax burden. Rate neighbors: Massachusetts (1.07%, nearly level); Maine (1.02%, nearly level); Minnesota (1.02%, nearly level).

What South Dakota's biggest counties actually charge

Effective rate in the eight South Dakota counties holding the most owner-occupied homes, ordered largest first (highlighted) and together holding 60% of the state's. ACS 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024). Counties ordered by owner-occupied housing units (B25003_002E), not by resident population.

South Dakota's median county rate is 1.06%, but that figure counts every county equally. Weight each county by how many owner-occupied homes it actually holds and the rate a typical South Dakota homeowner faces is 1.08%, close to the plain median, so South Dakota's larger counties are not unusual for the state.

Tax Affordability Score

6.1
Affordable

Based on the average effective tax rate of 1.06% compared to the national average of 0.92%. South Dakota has below-average property tax rates, making it a more affordable state for homeowners.

Very Expensive Very Affordable

How this score is calculated: a 1-10 scale from South Dakota's 1.06% vs the national 0.92% - read beside Massachusetts and Maine before treating the score as band-typical. A ratio at or below 0.5× scores 10, at or above 2.0× scores 1, linear between. Census figures only, not a recommendation or endorsement.

Counties in South Dakota by tax bill

Ranked from highest median annual bill downward across 66 measured counties. Gold/silver/bronze mark the top three list positions; effective rate is the focal comparison when home values differ.

#CountyMedian taxEff. rateHome value
1Lincoln County$3,9901.15%$348,300
2Union County$3,3171.10%$301,100
3Minnehaha County$3,2811.14%$287,600
4Pennington County$3,2651.08%$302,200
5Meade County$3,1291.01%$310,900
6Brookings County$2,9811.13%$264,600
7Clay County$2,9371.26%$232,300
8Custer County$2,8790.77%$372,100
9Lawrence County$2,7440.79%$346,500
10Stanley County$2,6791.32%$203,500
11Hughes County$2,6591.10%$242,000
12Brown County$2,5981.18%$221,100
13Lake County$2,5461.03%$247,600
14Davison County$2,5261.23%$205,800
15Moody County$2,5001.10%$226,500
16McCook County$2,4441.06%$230,100
17Yankton County$2,3881.06%$225,900
18Hamlin County$2,3131.11%$208,600
19Codington County$2,3080.97%$237,700
20Butte County$2,2650.93%$244,600
21Turner County$2,1810.98%$222,900
22Brule County$2,0710.96%$216,800
23Hanson County$1,9791.04%$191,200
24Fall River County$1,9401.00%$193,200
25Beadle County$1,9001.09%$175,100
26Charles Mix County$1,8781.10%$170,600
27Hutchinson County$1,8671.15%$163,000
28Harding County$1,8631.12%$166,100
29Walworth County$1,7921.31%$136,600
30Hyde County$1,7430.96%$181,600
31Potter County$1,7171.42%$121,300
32Sully County$1,7150.83%$205,400
33Bon Homme County$1,7071.27%$134,100
34Kingsbury County$1,7041.01%$169,500
35Deuel County$1,6940.82%$205,900
36Day County$1,6930.98%$173,600
37Douglas County$1,6530.99%$166,900
38Sanborn County$1,5861.17%$135,600
39Spink County$1,5841.28%$123,300
40Aurora County$1,5741.04%$151,900
41Grant County$1,5570.91%$171,000
42Bennett County$1,5350.98%$156,400
43Lyman County$1,5060.91%$165,800
44Roberts County$1,4920.97%$154,500
45Haakon County$1,4890.91%$164,200
46Perkins County$1,4781.29%$114,600
47Gregory County$1,4281.02%$139,900
48Hand County$1,4130.89%$159,300
49Clark County$1,3890.88%$158,400
50Campbell County$1,3681.18%$115,900
51Marshall County$1,3590.87%$156,500
52McPherson County$1,3231.55%$85,600
53Edmunds County$1,3130.80%$163,300
54Jones County$1,3130.94%$139,600
55Miner County$1,3060.92%$142,600
56Jerauld County$1,2650.84%$150,800
57Tripp County$1,2620.95%$132,900
58Dewey County$1,0501.51%$69,600
59Corson County$1,0091.45%$69,800
60Todd County$9751.81%$53,900
61Faulk County$9160.62%$147,500
62Mellette County$8250.98%$84,100
63Jackson County$7600.65%$117,300
64Ziebach County$6130.62%$99,600
65Buffalo County$4730.40%$117,800
66Oglala Lakota County$1990.38%$52,900

Frequently Asked Questions

Which county in South Dakota has the lowest property taxes?
Oglala Lakota County has the lowest median property tax in South Dakota at $199 per year with an effective rate of 0.38%. The highest is Lincoln County at $3,990.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average?
South Dakota property taxes are 37% above the national average. Homeowners here pay a median of $2,724 per year compared to $1,993 nationally.
What is the average property tax in South Dakota?
The average median property tax paid in South Dakota is $2,724 per year, based on ACS 2024 data. The average effective tax rate is 1.06%.
What is the median home value in South Dakota?
The median home value across South Dakota is $257,400, compared to $227,791 nationally. Home values directly impact property tax bills since taxes are assessed as a percentage of property value.
How are property taxes calculated?
Property taxes are calculated by multiplying the assessed value of a property by the local tax rate (mill rate). Rates vary by county, city, and school district. The effective tax rate shown here is the median tax paid divided by the median home value, which provides a standardized comparison across counties.
Can I appeal my property taxes in South Dakota?
Yes. Every South Dakota homeowner has the right to appeal their property tax assessment. The process typically starts at your county assessor's office within 30-90 days of receiving your assessment notice. You can challenge the assessed value by providing comparable sales data, evidence of property condition, or errors in the assessment. See our guide on how to appeal property taxes for detailed steps.

What to do with South Dakota's numbers

Turn the ACS 2024 statewide medians into a county check, an estimate, or an appeal path.

  • South Dakota's ACS 2024 median bill is $2,724/yr at 1.06% (37% above the U.S. median). Open any county below to see how far local bills sit from that statewide figure. County list
  • Inside South Dakota, Oglala Lakota County posts the lowest median bill at $199/yr; Lincoln County is highest at $3,990/yr. Open Oglala Lakota County
  • Estimate a parcel bill at South Dakota's published effective rate, or read the state's assessment and appeal path before treating the statewide median as your budget. State estimator

Statewide medians average across 66 counties; your parcel's assessed value, exemptions, and local levies set the real bill. U.S. Census Bureau ACS · 2024.

Editorial standards and provenance

PlainPropertyTax is rendered directly from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on the Census ACS state-level record for South Dakota. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-09.