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Aurora County

SD · Pop. 2,573 · Rural County

44/100Homestead Score

Aurora County is a rural county in South Dakota, spanning 708 square miles with 2,573 residents at a density of 3.6 people per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on corn, soybeans, hay. A median home price of $129,000 and an effective property tax rate of 1.08% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 5a with a 146-day growing season, average summer highs of 83.5°F and average winter lows of 9.9°F. Annual rainfall averages 25.4 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Avera Weskota Memorial Medical Center is 24.6 miles away, though without an in-county emergency room. Broadband reaches 99.1% of homes. On the hazard side, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 1.08%
Growing Season: 146 days
Broadband: 99.1%
Density: 3.6/sq mi

Pros

  • A median home price of $129,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
  • Broadband reaches 99.1% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • A strong agricultural economy built on corn, soybeans, hay means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
  • At 3.6 people per square mile, land is available with genuine space and privacy.
  • A low unemployment rate of 1.7% reflects a stable local job base.

Cons

  • Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
  • Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
  • A 146-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
  • The nearest hospital, Avera Weskota Memorial Medical Center, is 24.6 miles away, a real consideration for medical needs.
  • Average winter lows of 9.9°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.

At a glance

Aurora County, SD is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.

Homestead score
44/100
Median home price
$129k
Property tax
1.08%
Growing season
146 days (zone 5a)
Annual rainfall
25.4"
Broadband
99.1%
Nearest hospital
Avera Weskota Memorial Medical Center, 24.6 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate1.08%
Median Household Income$74,130
Poverty Rate8.4%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$129K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone5a
Growing Season146 days
Annual Rainfall25.4 inches
Avg Summer High83.5°F
Avg Winter Low9.9°F
Top CropsCorn, Soybeans, Hay

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought8/10
Wildfire7/10
Tornado4/10
Flood2/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalAvera Weskota Memorial Medical Center (24.6 mi)
Emergency RoomNo
Healthcare Facilities1

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage99.1%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate1.7%
Ag EconomyStrong

Homesteading in Aurora County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Aurora County?
Aurora County is in USDA hardiness zone 5a with a 146-day growing season, average summer highs of 83.5°F, and average winter lows of 9.9°F. The established crops are corn, soybeans, hay.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $129,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.08%. County-level per-acre prices aren't published, so compare current local listings for raw land.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 99.1% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Avera Weskota Memorial Medical Center is 24.6 miles away, without an in-county emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.

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Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.