City in South Dakota, United States

Spearfish

$449kMedian Home
321Days with 5+ hrs sun
59°FAvg High Temp
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View on MapPopulation12kCenter elevation3,648 ft
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Weather & Forecast

Quick Read

The cold season is long. Rain peaks in the warmer months. Winter is not just a brief interruption. Noticeable daylight swing. Snow is a real part of winter.

About Spearfish

Spearfish is a city in Lawrence County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 12,193 at the 2020 census, and was estimated to be 13,803 in 2024, making it the 10th most populous city in South Dakota. Spearfish is the largest city in Lawrence County and the home of Black Hills State University.Wikipedia

Long winterWarm-season rainNoticeable daylight swingQueen City
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Place

Where It Is

Location Context
Spearfish, South Dakota
Latitude44.49°
Longitude-103.86°
Population12k
Center elevation3,648 ft

State Context

South DakotaU.S. state

South Dakota is a landlocked state in the Upper Midwest, North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Dakota Sioux tribe, which comprises a large portion of the population and has historically dominated the territory. South Dakota is the 17th-largest by area, the fifth-least populous, and the fifth-least densely populated of the 50 United States.Wikipedia

Income tax: NoneAvg sales tax: 6.11%Property tax: 1.08%Official school data available

About the Region

Great Plains

The Great Plains represent some of the most genuinely affordable cost of living in the United States. Cities like Omaha, Kansas City, and Des Moines consistently rank near the top of affordability indices while maintaining real cultural amenities. Kansas City has emerged as a surprising food, arts, and startup destination. Omaha's financial services backbone — anchored by Berkshire Hathaway and a cluster of insurance and banking firms — provides white-collar economic stability that defies the region's agricultural image.

The trade-off is climate volatility. Tornado Alley runs directly through this region, with the world's highest concentration of significant tornadoes. Winters bring blizzards and wind chills far below zero, while summers are hot and humid in the east, hotter and drier to the west. The Great Plains remain one of the least densely populated regions in the Lower 48 — long drives between cities, limited public transit, and a car-dependent lifestyle are material considerations for urban transplants.

Outdoors

Nearby Parks & Nature

Nature & Park Feeds

Closest protected landscapes, reserves, and big park systems surfaced from the same nearby feeds used in compare.

Distances in miles
National Park Service feed

Federal Park Sites

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OpenStreetMap feed

Local Nature & Reserves

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Sources: National Park Service and OpenStreetMap
People

City Profile

Median Age38 yrs
College Educated45%bachelor's or higher
Work From Home6%of workforce
Poverty Rate13%
Practical

Housing Costs & Income

Housing
$449k
Median home price
Household Income
$59k
Median annual
Daily life

Livability

Safety Score
75
School Rating
7.9/10
Internet
No internet coverage data yet.
The year

Climate Through the Year

Sunshine
321
days with 5+ hours of sun/year

Annual average of days with more than five hours of sunshine, not necessarily clear skies.

88% of the year
Avg High Temp
59°F
annual average
Humidity Pattern
Mixed humidity
50% warm season / 57% cool season
Comfort Score
40/100
Challenging
Temp Swing
49°F
seasonal high-temp spread
Annual precipitation
20"
inches per year
Annual snowfall
50"
inches per year
Typical Air Quality
45
Good · 2024 modeled average
How To Read Comfort

Comfort combines temperature band fit, humidity fit, seasonal swing, and penalties for long stretches of extreme heat or cold. Higher scores mean the yearly pattern stays closer to an easier day-to-day climate band.

Monthly Temperature
Daylight Span (Sunrise to Sunset)
Precipitation Distribution
20" of precipitation per year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Humidity Through The Year
Hover any month for the exact RH value. This is measuring monthly relative humidity, not dew point or current weather.
fairly steady humidity
Summer 50% · Winter 57% · Sep-May 46-60%
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Hover a month for exact RH and seasonal context.
Watchouts

Natural Hazard Risk

Flood Risk
minimal
FEMA classification
Wildfire Risk
moderate
FEMA rating
Poor Air Days
3 days
per year with AQI > 100
Local directory

Local Next Steps

Local directory

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