Some Tiny South Dakota Towns Are Seeing Huge Home Price Increases

When you think of skyrocketing housing prices in South Dakota, it's easy to assume that the cost of owning a home in some of the state's largest cities has got be outpacing the rest of the Mount Rushmore State.

But when Stacker recently published a list of the South Dakota places with the fastest jumps in housing prices (according to Zillow) over the past five years, Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen, Brookings, and Watertown didn't even crack the top 50.

Get our free mobile app

The distinction of the biggest price jump belongs not to a city but to the unincorporated community of Chester (population 285). When it comes to rising home prices, no one has this spot in Lake County beat.

Since 2018, home prices in Chester are up more than 130 percent - from $69,017 to $213,801.

But if you think it's odd that such a small town would see such a big jump, wait until you see the rest of the top ten.

Eight cities have populations of less than 1,000 people. Seven of those are home to fewer than 375 people.

SOUTH DAKOTA CITIES WITH FASTEST GROWING HOME PRICES

Chester (Population 285):
- Typical home value: $375,710
- 1-year price change: +$69,017 (+22.5%)
- 5-year price change: +$213,801 (+132.1%)
New Underwood (Population 612)
- Typical home value: $360,588
- 1-year price change: +$46,981 (+15.0%)
- 5-year price change: +$193,192 (+115.4%)
Hermosa (Population 369)
- Typical home value: $428,872
- 1-year price change: +$42,472 (+11.0%)
- 5-year price change: +$226,281 (+111.7%)
Wentworth (Population 159):
- Typical home value: $446,704
- 1-year price change: +$73,155 (+19.6%)
- 5-year price change: +$223,482 (+100.1%)
Keystone (Population 248):
- Typical home value: $529,272
- 1-year price change: +$55,580 (+11.7%)
- 5-year price change: +$260,456 (+96.9%)
Custer (Population 1,915)
- Typical home value: $379,774
- 1-year price change: +$32,108 (+9.2%)
- 5-year price change: +$171,207 (+82.1%)
Madison (Population 5,865)
- Typical home value: $253,297
- 1-year price change: +$42,634 (+20.2%)
- 5-year price change: +$110,984 (+78.0%)
Faith (Population 364)
- Typical home value: $186,652
- 1-year price change: +$30,701 (+19.7%)
- 5-year price change: +$77,923 (+71.7%)
Eden (Population 91)
- Typical home value: $336,520
- 1-year price change: +$37,539 (+12.6%)
- 5-year price change: +$135,614 (+67.5%)
Astoria (Population 128)
- Typical home value: $290,622
- 1-year price change: +$31,029 (+12.0%)
- 5-year price change: +$103,950 (+55.7%)

Keep in mind, in towns this small the addition of as few as one or two new houses on the market will result in much larger average price fluctuations than in bigger areas.

Most Expensive South Dakota Related Things on eBay

In South Dakota, we've always prided ourselves on having one of the most reasonable cost of living rates in America.

But that doesn't mean that you can't spend a pretty penny when it comes to Mount Rushmore-related items.

All you've got to do is head to eBay where, in and among the 98,751 search results for South Dakota, you'll find some things that will set you back plenty.

From Frybread to Pheasants - Here are South Dakota's Official State Things

Every state in our nation has chosen things that represent the state in one way or another to be official state things. Like a flower, or animal. South Dakota is no different.

The Mount Rushmore has a state flower. But did you know we also have a state tree and a state fish? Yes, we even have a state code.

Here is what we have so far in Wyoming. Thanks to the South Dakota Secretary of State's Office for the info:

Life on a Cattle Ranch in Western South Dakota

Life is different out in the country. One look at the photo from Robin Bickel and you quickly realize that a workday is quite different as well, after all, she lives out west in South Dakota Cattle Country.

Robin Bickel took time to tell KIKN Country a little bit about her life out west and life as a woman, working outdoors with animals and nature in God's Country. Bickel lives and works on a cattle ranch operated by herself, her father, Jack, and his brother Keith. How far out in the country is she? How does 50 miles west of Mobridge, South Dakota sound? Yep, mountain time out there.

Life is so different in Sioux Falls, South Dakota compared to what our friends on the farm and ranches deal with. It's a half-mile to the grocery store for our family. For Robin, it's 17 miles. However, it's a quick step out her door and she's right in the middle of where a lot of the groceries come from.

Filed Under: astoria, chester, eden, Faith, hermosa, house prices, Keystone, new underwood, Real Estate, wentworth

Categories: Articles, News, Newsletter KYBB, South Dakota