Brandon, Sioux Falls Lead Niche’s 2025 South Dakota Rankings
Is Your Hometown in the S.D. Top 10?
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By Todd Epp, Northern Plains News
Brandon is the best place to live in South Dakota for 2025, according to Niche, a national data and review site that ranks communities using federal and local data, resident reviews, and its own grading system.
Sioux Falls, the state’s largest city, is the top-ranked urban area in South Dakota and stands out for affordability and amenities compared to other Midwest cities.
Top 10 Best Places to Live in South Dakota (Niche 2025)
Brandon (Population: 10,996, Grade: A)
Dakota Dunes (Population: 4,129, Grade: A)
Mobridge (Population: 2,928, Grade: A)
Brookings (Population: 23,710, Grade: A)
Vermillion (Population: 11,800, Grade: A)
Sioux Falls (Population: 197,642, Grade: A-)
Tea (Population: 6,339, Grade: A-)
Milbank (Population: 3,513, Grade: A-)
Dell Rapids (Population: 3,947, Grade: A-)
North Sioux City (Population: 3,018, Grade: A-)
Niche calculates these grades using data from the United States Census Bureau, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as millions of resident reviews.
Why People Move to Brandon
Brandon draws new residents for its schools, safety, and community feel. “The public schools are the best in this region. The teachers care for the students and want them to succeed. It’s small town vibes but still big enough,” a resident said in a review collected by Niche. Niche’s data shows Brandon also ranks as the safest place to live in South Dakota for 2025, based on low crime rates and strong community ties.
Why People Move to Sioux Falls
According to Niche and Livability, Sioux Falls is South Dakota’s largest city and the top city in the state for jobs, healthcare, and cultural amenities. Residents say, “It’s a small city compared to most. But it is safe, and there’s a really good community amongst people. Small city with big city amenities which makes it convenient,” according to Niche reviews.
Sioux Falls stands out nationally and regionally for several reasons:
Affordability: Reader’s Digest named Sioux Falls the most affordable city in the country in 2023, citing low housing costs and strong economic growth.
Growth: GOBankingRates ranked Sioux Falls as the second most affordable and fast-growing city in the United States, with a five-year population growth rate of 13.5 percent and average home prices of around $312,000.
Happiness: WalletHub ranked Sioux Falls among the top 10 happiest cities in America in 2025, highlighting emotional and physical well-being, low unemployment, and a thriving economy.
Quality of Life: Livability included Sioux Falls in its 2025 Top 100 Best Places to Live, noting its job market, family-friendliness, outdoor activities, cultural scene, and healthcare options.
Cost of Living: PayScale reports Sioux Falls’ cost of living is 10 percent lower than the national average, with housing expenses 13 percent below average and groceries 3 percent below average.
Property Taxes: SmartAsset found Sioux Falls’ median property tax of $2,652 is lower than most regional peers, with an average effective tax rate of 1.08 percent.
Sioux Falls offers lower property taxes and cost of living than most regional peers, while maintaining a high quality of life and strong job market.
Regional Comparison: Sioux Falls vs. Midwest Cities
Source: Niche.com
About the Rankings
Niche’s methodology uses dozens of public data sets and millions of resident reviews to produce grades for each community. The goal is to provide accurate, comparable, and thorough evaluations for people deciding where to live.
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BROADCAST READER:
Brandon is the best place to live in South Dakota for 2025, with Sioux Falls ranking as the state’s top city.
That’s according to reporting by Northern Plains News.
Niche, a national data site, ranked Brandon first and Sioux Falls sixth statewide, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, FBI, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with resident reviews.
According to Niche and Livability, Sioux Falls stands out for affordability and amenities compared to cities like Omaha and Minneapolis.
Residents said in Niche reviews that Brandon is praised for its public schools and small-town feel, while Sioux Falls offers big-city opportunities and a strong sense of community.
For a full list of the top ten, visit nplainsnews.com.