Turner County

South Dakota · SD

#27 in South Dakota
73
County Score

County Report Card

About Turner County, South Dakota

Turner County outperforms national average

Turner County's composite score of 73.0 exceeds the national median of 50.0 by nearly 50 percent, reflecting balanced livability across housing, health, and income dimensions. The county ranks among the stronger rural performers nationwide.

Competitive with South Dakota peers

Turner County scores 73.0 against South Dakota's state average of 71.3, placing it slightly above the midpoint of the state's county rankings. The county demonstrates solid livability fundamentals for rural South Dakota.

Balanced strengths across multiple areas

Turner County scores well on taxes (73.0), cost (80.6), and health (75.3), creating a well-rounded livability profile. The county offers median household income of $75,283 with reasonable housing costs—median rents of $745 and home values near $199,000.

Risk exposure warrants attention

Turner County's risk score of 76.0, while respectable, lags several peer counties in natural disaster and environmental hazard resilience. Income score of 32.5 also indicates wage growth opportunities remain limited.

Right fit for balanced-living seekers

Turner County suits families wanting moderate incomes, reasonable housing costs, and reliable health services in a rural Midwestern setting. The balanced profile appeals to those avoiding extreme trade-offs in any single livability dimension.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax73Cost80.6SafetyComing SoonHealth75.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome32.5Risk76WaterComing Soon
🏛73
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty
🏠80.6
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty
💼32.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
75.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
76
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Deep Dives

Turner County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Turner County

via TaxByCounty

Turner's rate slightly below national norm

Turner County's 1.041% effective rate sits modestly below the national median of 1.56%, positioning it in the nation's slightly-below-average tier. The median property tax of $2,072 trails the national median of $2,690, reflecting both a lower rate and modest home values.

Turner ranks just below state average

Turner's 1.041% rate essentially matches South Dakota's state average of 1.094%, making it representative of typical statewide conditions. The median tax of $2,072 falls below the state average of $1,785 due to Turner's higher median home value of $199,000 combined with a slightly lower effective rate.

Turner occupies middle-ground position

Turner's 1.041% rate sits between low-tax Sully (0.854%), Tripp (0.902%) and higher-tax Stanley (1.426%), occupying the regional middle. Among its peer counties, Turner offers moderate tax conditions that align with statewide norms.

Median Turner home: $2,072 yearly tax

Turner County's median home valued at $199,000 generates $2,072 in annual property taxes at the current rate. Including mortgage adjustments, total tax liability reaches $2,255—representative of typical South Dakota conditions.

Standard assessment appeals apply here

Turner County homeowners benefit from the same appeal opportunities as all South Dakota residents, with overassessment possible at any tax level. Given Turner's representative tax rates, pursuing a property tax appeal could still deliver meaningful savings for vigilant property owners.

Cost of Living in Turner County

via CostByCounty

Turner County offers solid rental affordability

Turner County's rent-to-income ratio of 11.9% sits comfortably below both the South Dakota state average of 13.8% and the national standard. With median household income near $75,283 and median rent at $745, renters spend less than one dollar in every eight on housing.

Turner County among South Dakota's best

Turner County ranks favorably within South Dakota for rental affordability, with a rent-to-income ratio below the state average and median rent nearly at the state median. The county combines reasonable housing costs with solid household incomes, creating one of the state's better affordability profiles for renters.

Turner leads the region in rent affordability

Turner County's median rent of $745 undercuts most surrounding counties while household income of $75,283 exceeds Spink ($73,011) and most other neighbors. This combination gives Turner renters more breathing room in their housing budgets than comparable areas.

Homeownership costs run higher here

Renters spend a manageable 11.9% of income on housing, but homeowners allocate a steeper 15.2% to monthly ownership costs ($950 against $75,283 income). With median home values around $199,000, buying in Turner County requires more household budget commitment than renting.

Turner County welcomes relocating renters

Turner County delivers attractive affordability for remote workers and job seekers, particularly renters looking for reasonable housing costs paired with decent income levels. If you're comparing South Dakota counties, Turner's combination of low rent burden and stable household finances makes it a smart choice.

Income & Jobs in Turner County

via IncomeByCounty

Turner slightly outpaces U.S. median

Turner County's median household income of $75,283 edges past the national median of $74,755 by less than 1%, placing it squarely in America's middle-class mainstream. Per capita income of $36,569 runs about 4% below the national average, reflecting a relatively equitable income distribution.

Top-tier earner in South Dakota

Turner County ranks among South Dakota's highest-income counties, with median household income 12.5% above the state average of $66,926. This strong showing reflects Turner's diversified economy and agricultural productivity.

Turner punches above rural average

Turner's $75,283 income trails only Stanley County ($77,000) and Union County ($84,137) among regional peers, comfortably outpacing Sully ($70,250), Walworth ($62,722), and Tripp ($58,854). Turner's competitive position demonstrates the county's economic resilience and opportunity.

Housing costs remain manageable

Turner's rent-to-income ratio of 11.9% sits comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold, allowing households to dedicate less than one-eighth of income to housing. The median home value of $199,000, while substantial, remains accessible to households earning $75,000.

Turner households can invest strategically

Turner County families earning $75,000 enjoy above-average income cushion and favorable housing ratios, positioning them well for wealth building. Maximize retirement savings, establish investment portfolios, and consider real estate investments to compound long-term financial security.

Health in Turner County

via HealthByCounty

Turner's life expectancy exceeds U.S. average

At 78.0 years, Turner County residents live roughly three years longer than the U.S. average. Just 13.5% report poor or fair health, showing strong population wellness.

Above South Dakota's health baseline

Turner's life expectancy of 78.0 years outpaces South Dakota's 75.4-year average by more than two years. The county ranks solidly in the state's healthier tier.

Provider data limited, mental health sparse

Primary care provider data for Turner is unavailable, limiting a full regional comparison. Mental health providers number 22 per 100K—one of the lower rates in this group, reflecting rural constraints.

Coverage strong despite mental health gaps

Turner's uninsured rate of 9.7% is among the lowest in this group, well below South Dakota's 11.1%. Strong coverage rates provide residents with financial access even as behavioral health provider availability remains limited.

Turner's strong coverage story continues

With 90% of Turner County residents insured, the county has built solid healthcare foundations. If you're in the uninsured 10%, visit Healthcare.gov to explore coverage options today.

Disaster Risk in Turner County

via RiskByCounty

Turner County's risk slightly exceeds national norm

Turner County's composite risk score of 23.98 sits just below the national average and is categorized as Very Low. This represents moderate natural disaster exposure relative to the nation overall.

Turner sits near South Dakota's midpoint

At 23.98, Turner County falls slightly below the state average of 26.84, placing it in the safer half of South Dakota counties. It represents a moderate-risk county by state standards.

Turner balances lower and higher-risk neighbors

Turner County's 23.98 score ranks between the safest counties (Stanley at 5.06, Sully at 6.33) and the highest-risk areas (Union at 37.12, Walworth at 39.50). It occupies a middle ground in its regional risk landscape.

Tornadoes pose Turner's greatest threat

Tornado risk dominates at 64.34, making it Turner County's most significant hazard, followed by moderate wildfire (45.96) and flood (26.75) exposure. Residents should prioritize tornado preparedness alongside standard severe weather protections.

Prioritize wind and tornado coverage

Turner County homeowners should ensure their policies cover wind damage, hail, and tornado-related losses alongside standard protections. Maintain a safe room or shelter plan and consider additional riders for full peace of mind.

ByCounty Network

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.