8 Best Places To Call Home In South Dakota In 2026

South Dakota is a great place to raise a family or enjoy time with extended family, since the best towns here offer family-friendly experiences without breaking the bank on housing. Both young and old can explore the palaces here, including one made of corn and one inspired by children's stories. They can also see the past up close at the only active archaeological site in South Dakota and a museum with a remarkable array of musical instruments. Residents stumble upon unusual sights too, like a massive pheasant statue and a meadow-filled river island. These eight towns are the best places in South Dakota to call home.

Huron

With a median home cost of just under $229,500, Huron is one of the most affordable communities in South Dakota. Residents may wander far from their homes, especially during pheasant hunting season, October through January. The town has some of the best pheasant hunting spots in the U.S., as is evident from the massive 28-foot-tall fiberglass pheasant sculpture standing in Huron called the World's Largest Pheasant. The community also hosts big events such as the annual South Dakota State Fair, held every September with carnival rides, car races, and livestock shows. Its fairgrounds also host races throughout the year at its Dakota State Fair Speedway. For history buffs, Huron has the Pyle House Museum, which was the home of Gladys Pyle, the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate without first being appointed to the seat.

Yankton

Yankton sits on the shores of the Missouri River on the southern border with Nebraska. It's a deeply historic city, as it was the capital of the Dakota Territory in the 1860s. Today, the town hosts a Dakota Territorial Capitol Replica within its Riverside Park. The community makes full use of its historic sites, with the 1909 Mead Museum hosting the Children's Transportation Museum and artifacts on Yankton's architectural history and Native Americans who lived in the area. This historic town is also highly walkable, with the Auld-Brokaw Trail connecting the entire city, including notable sites like the pedestrian Meridian Bridge across the Missouri River and out to the Lewis and Clark Lake. The median sale price for Yankton sits at $264,000.

Aberdeen

Aberdeen is one of South Dakota's most highly rated cities for families. That's why so many people come here just to visit Storybook Land, a free experience with interactive displays drawn from popular children's stories such as "The Wizard of Oz," situated within a castle. Recreational trails connect much of Aberdeen's parks together, including Wylie Park, where it resides. To the north of downtown is Lake Minnie-Eho, commonly known as Wylie Lake, which offers trout fishing for all ages, along with a swimming beach. The town also offers cultural enrichment at the Dakota Prairie Museum, cataloging the spread of pioneers across the prairies. Aberdeen's median house sale price is well below the state level, at just under $233,000.

Vermillion

Vermillion is a music lover's paradise, with the University of South Dakota hosting the National Music Museum. This museum has more than 15,000 instruments on hand, such as Italian violins, rockstar guitars, harps, and many other instruments, both old and new. The University also hosts the Art Galleries, which focus on both American and Northern Plains Tribal artwork. Western history played a crucial role in this region, as Lewis and Clark once trekked through here on their way to the Pacific Coast. Part of that trail is preserved at the Spirit Mound Historic Prairie, while boaters can go out on a kayak at the Missouri National Recreational River. Vermillion is an affordable college town with a median house list price close to the state level at just under $316,500.

Pierre

Despite being the capital of South Dakota, Pierre is still a distinctly small town, with a population of just under 13,800 residents, and its median housing price is below the state median at $317,167, which gives residents the extra funds to go out exploring. Pierre is filled with museums showcasing the full range of South Dakota's history, with the Museum of the South Dakota State Historical Society telling the story of Native Americans, early settlers, and statehood. The South Dakota Discovery Center offers family fun with more than 60 hands-on science exhibits for young families. The capital sits right on the Missouri River, with a causeway providing access to the La Framboise Island Nature Area, filled with trees, meadows, birds, and wildlife.

Mitchell

Mitchell is one of the quirkiest communities in South Dakota, as sitting right in its downtown is a palace made of corn. The World's Only Corn Palace is a folk art installation that changes every year as 7 murals made of corn are changed regularly. Local farmers and artists supply the corn and expertise to keep this roadside fresh. Some of the town's treasures lay buried under the earth as well. There's a circa 1,000 AD Middle Missouri Native American village here that is being uncovered by the Mitchell Prehistoric Indigenous Archeological Site.

This is the only active archaeological site in the state that is open for visitors to come see the dig and the uncovered artifacts. It sits close by to Lake Mitchell, which is a popular spot for hikers at the Lake Mitchell Hiking and Biking Trails and beachgoers. Residents don't have to dig deep into their pockets to live here, as the median housing cost is $280,483, below the state median list price of $368,333.

Milbank

Milbank was founded in 1880 in northeastern South Dakota on the shores of the South Fork Whetstone River by the arrival of the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad. This community would later become the birthplace for the American Legion Baseball, an amateur baseball league established for teens ages 13 through 19. Milbank thus has a deeply American feel that can be found throughout its borders, such as at the Milbank Grist Mill and Mill Park, a 44-foot-tall mill originally built in 1884 that is open for tours. Residents also regularly go down to Lake Farley Park to hike around the lake, go swimming at the beach, or play a round of volleyball. The town has plenty of options for dining out, from an Old West-themed American-style buffet at Pizza Ranch to family meals at the Millstone Family Restaurant. The town is budget-friendly as well, with a median housing price of $306,000.

Watertown

Watertown's nickname is South Dakota's Rising Star, which fits its optimistic character, where one can find little masterpieces everywhere, both in the art scene and the glacial lakes around it. Watertown is decorated with sculptures placed throughout the community via the Artwalk project, with sculptures changed out on an annual basis. Watertown also honors the legacy of American artist Terry Redlin at the Redlin Art Center, with more than 160 paintings of wildlife and American scenes. Watertown sits right by two glacial lakes: Lake Kampeska and Pelican Lake, which are accessible from the Stokes-Thomas Lake City Park and Pelican Lake Recreation Area, respectively. At Pelican View Park right outside of Pelican Lake, hikers can explore 5.5 miles of prairie trails. The median house price in Watertown sits at around the state level of $379,000.

These Towns Are Rising Stars

All of these communities could claim to be rising stars, with Milbank's star-studded past as the birthplace of American Legion Baseball, Yankton's heritage as the territorial capital, and Aberdeen's castle set in a city park. These towns aren't afraid to try new things, whether that's the artistic endeavors in the college town of Vermillion or the always-changing Corn Palace in Mitchell. Families and seniors coming to live here will be dazzled by these communities' heritage, culture, and landmarks, while also living comfortably in affordable homes.