Haakon County
SD · Pop. 1,708 · Rural County
Haakon County sits in South Dakota across 1,811 square miles, home to 1,708 people at 0.9 per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on wheat, hay, sunflower. The median home price is $153,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.85%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 5a with a 144-day growing season, average summer highs of 85°F and average winter lows of 12.2°F. Annual rainfall averages 20.4 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital is 18.3 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 98.5% of homes. On the hazard side, wildfire risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.85% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $153,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 98.5% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- A strong agricultural economy built on wheat, hay, sunflower means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
- At 0.9 people per square mile, land is available with genuine space and privacy.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- A 144-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- Annual rainfall of just 20.4 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
- Average winter lows of 12.2°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.
At a glance
Haakon County, SD is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 64/100
- Median home price
- $153k
- Property tax
- 0.85%
- Growing season
- 144 days (zone 5a)
- Annual rainfall
- 20.4"
- Broadband
- 98.5%
- Nearest hospital
- Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital, 18.3 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Haakon County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Haakon County?
- Haakon County is in USDA hardiness zone 5a with a 144-day growing season, average summer highs of 85°F, and average winter lows of 12.2°F. The established crops are wheat, hay, sunflower.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $153,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.85%. Per-acre raw-land prices vary widely by parcel here, so check active listings for current rates.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 98.5% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital is 18.3 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
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More counties in South Dakota
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The closest counties to Haakon County by distance, including across state lines.
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.
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