What your paycheck buys · Updated every Friday

What a paycheck buys in South Dakota this week

Out of reach · #21 of 50 on affordability · rate for the week of October 22, 2026

A median South Dakota household earning $82,460 a year can afford a home of about $260,000 at this week’s 7.32% average 30-year rate. The median South Dakota listing is $375,000, which would take 40.3% of that household’s gross income, against the usual 28% ceiling.

$260,000

Affordable home price

+$1,716 vs. last week · −$13,734 vs. a year ago

$375,000

Median list price (September 2026)

+$5,100 vs. a year earlier

Affordability index (100 = within reach)

U.S. 66 · South Dakota 74 a year ago

40.3%

Share of income the median listing takes

$2,772/mo incl. taxes & insurance · U.S. 42.5%

$82,000

Median household income (2025)

U.S. $87,000

#21

Rank of 50 (1 = most affordable)

See the full ranking

Compared with a year ago

A year ago, with the 30-year rate at 6.19%, a median list price of $369,900 and median income of $78,870 (2024 figure), the same household could afford about $274,000 and the median listing took 37.8% of income. Affordability in South Dakota has worsened since then.

Nearby in the ranking

#19 Wisconsin: can afford $278,000, median listing $390,000
#20 Louisiana: can afford $192,000, median listing $270,000
#22 Virginia: can afford $316,000, median listing $456,000
#23 Arkansas: can afford $215,000, median listing $319,000

Run your own numbers →

How this is calculated: 28% of gross monthly income for housing, 10% down, a 30-year fixed loan at Freddie Mac’s weekly average, and 1.45% of the price a year for taxes and insurance. Full method, caveats, and sources on the main index page. An educational gauge, not a mortgage quote.