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Retirement community in Yankton, South Dakota

Photo by Solen Feyissa on Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/@solenfeyissa)

Yankton, South Dakota Retirement Guide

established retirement community
80

Retirement Score

Yankton, South Dakota at a Glance

Median Home Price
$191,400
State Income Tax
No state income tax; Social Security and pension income fully exempt.
Avg January Low
13.4°F
Cost of Living Index
87.9 (US avg = 100)
Best For
established retirement community
RetireCityIQ Score
80 / 100

Overview

Explore the key retirement factors for Yankton, South Dakota, including cost of living, taxes, healthcare quality, and climate data.

Cost of Living

Affordability Metrics

Cost of Living Index
87.9 (U.S. avg = 100)Low confidence
BEA Regional Price Parities · Updated May 2026
Median Household Income
$60,180High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026

Yankton's cost of living is 12.099999999999994% below the national average. For a detailed breakdown of expenses, see our cost of living methodology.

Housing

Real Estate & Housing

Median Home Price
$191,400High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026
Median Monthly Rent
$754High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026
Owner-Occupied Housing
64.6%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026

10-Year Housing Stress Test (Estimate)

Estimate monthly homeowner carrying cost in Yankton using median home price and adjustable assumptions. Stress case applies +10% property tax, +20% insurance, +10% maintenance.

Estimated monthly carrying cost

$415

Stress-case monthly carrying cost

$466

Median home price used: $191,400

Median rent reference: $754 / month

Estimate includes property tax, insurance, maintenance reserve, and HOA. It excludes mortgage, utilities, and one-time transaction costs.

Budget validation

Calculate if your savings last in this city

Use RetireFree to test whether your portfolio can support retirement in Yankton, South Dakota after local housing costs, taxes, healthcare, inflation, and withdrawal timing.

Open the RetireFree Calculator →

Healthcare

Access & Quality

Healthcare Access Score
100 / 100High confidence
CMS Hospital General Information · Updated September 2026
Care Access (Proxy)
100 / 100Estimated
RetireCityIQ proxy model · Updated June 2026
Aging-in-Place Score
48 / 100Estimated
RetireCityIQ proxy model · Updated June 2026

Quality of care and specialist availability are critical for a successful retirement. Yankton scores 100 out of 100 for healthcare access.

Care planning link

Find local assisted living in Yankton

If your city research includes aging parents, future care needs, or a move closer to family, compare local care options alongside housing and healthcare access.

Assisted living in Yankton

Taxes

State Tax Climate

Retirement Tax Score
100 / 100High confidence
Tax Foundation · Updated September 2026
Tax Details
No state income tax; Social Security and pension income fully exempt.High confidence
Tax Foundation · Updated September 2026

South Dakota has a tax environment that is highly favorable for retirees.

Climate

Weather & Environment

Avg July High
86.7°FMedium confidence
Avg January Low
13.4°FMedium confidence
Annual Precipitation
22.9"Medium confidence
Sunny Days / Year
303 daysMedium confidence

With 303 sunny days a year and an average January low of 13.4°F, Yankton offers a traditional winter climate.

Safety & Walkability

Community Safety

Safety Score
82.1 / 100Medium confidence
FBI Crime Data Explorer · Updated June 2026

Walkability

Walk Score (proxy)
33.3 / 100Medium confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year (B08301) · Updated June 2026
Transit Score (proxy)
1.2 / 100Medium confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year (B08301) · Updated June 2026

Demographics

Population Profile

Population
15,421High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026
Median Age
39.9High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026
Age 65+
21.0%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026
Veterans
8.6%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026
Bachelor's Degree+
30.7%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026

Diversity Breakdown

White
87.1%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026
Black
1.7%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026
Hispanic/Latino
6.9%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026
Asian
0.3%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026

Frequently asked questions about retiring in Yankton

Is Yankton, South Dakota a good place to retire?

Yankton, South Dakota is one of the US retirement-friendly cities tracked by RetireCityIQ. Notable retirement-relevant traits include established retirement community. See the at-a-glance card on this page for the cost of living, state tax treatment, climate, and healthcare access metrics.

What is the cost of living in Yankton, South Dakota for retirees?

The cost-of-living index is 88, roughly 12% below the national average of 100. Median home price is around $191,400.

Does South Dakota tax Social Security or retirement income?

For South Dakota residents: No state income tax; Social Security and pension income fully exempt.

What is the climate like in Yankton, South Dakota?

Yankton, South Dakota has January average low around 13°F, July average high around 87°F. Climate normals are based on 30-year averages from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information.

What is healthcare access like in Yankton, South Dakota?

Yankton scores 100/100 on the RetireCityIQ healthcare access index — a top-tier score. The index combines CMS hospital quality ratings, Medicare Advantage plan availability, and hospitals per 100,000 residents (KFF + CMS data).

Interested in Yankton? Talk to a Local Expert.

State Preferences (select all that interest you)

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