Best Life Index › States › South Dakota › Cities › Aberdeen

South Dakota city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Aberdeen?

What it costs to live in Aberdeen, and how it compares with other South Dakota cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

67

3rd best value in South Dakota

How much you get for what you pay, versus other South Dakota cities.

Overall livability

69

1st overall in South Dakota

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Aberdeen is home to about 28,500 people. A typical home runs $167,200 and a household earns around $58,400, a price-to-income ratio of 2.9. Among South Dakota's cities, it ranks 3rd for value and 1st overall.

Aberdeen at a glance

Median home price

$167,200

2nd in SD of 7

Median rent

$704/mo

Median household income

$58,400

Home price to income

2.9x

Unemployment

3.6%

6th in SD of 7

School rating

4/10

2nd in SD of 7

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in SD of 7

Walk score

2/100

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‹ See all top South Dakota cities ranked  ยท  South Dakota state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within South Dakota only. Updated 2026.