How affordable is land and property here?

The median home price is $152,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.9%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.

Is broadband internet available?

Broadband reaches 99.3% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.

Hand County

SD · Pop. 3,045 · Rural County

66/100Homestead Score

Hand County, South Dakota covers 1,437 square miles with a population of 3,045 and a density of 2.1 people per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on soybeans, corn, hay. A median home price of $152,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.9% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 4b with a 148-day growing season, average summer highs of 82.5°F and average winter lows of 9.3°F. Annual rainfall averages 21.1 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital and Clinic is 1.9 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 99.3% of homes. On the hazard side, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.9%

Growing Season: 148 days

Broadband: 99.3%

Density: 2.1/sq mi

Pros

A low effective property tax rate of 0.9% holds annual carrying costs down.
A median home price of $152,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
Broadband reaches 99.3% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital and Clinic, with an emergency room, is just 1.9 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
A strong agricultural economy built on soybeans, corn, hay means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.

Cons

Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
A 148-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
Annual rainfall of just 21.1 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
Average winter lows of 9.3°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.

At a glance

Hand County, SD is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.

Homestead score: 66/100
Median home price: $152k
Property tax: 0.9%
Growing season: 148 days (zone 4b)
Annual rainfall: 21.1"
Broadband: 99.3%
Nearest hospital: Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital and Clinic, 1.9 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.9%

Median Household Income$72,054

Poverty Rate6.6%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$152K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone4b

Growing Season148 days

Annual Rainfall21.1 inches

Avg Summer High82.5°F

Avg Winter Low9.3°F

Top CropsSoybeans, Corn, Hay

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought6/10

Wildfire8/10

Tornado3/10

Flood1/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalAvera Hand County Memorial Hospital and Clinic (1.9 mi)

Emergency RoomYes

Healthcare Facilities1

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage99.3%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate1.7%

Ag EconomyStrong

Homesteading in Hand County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Hand County?: Hand County is in USDA hardiness zone 4b with a 148-day growing season, average summer highs of 82.5°F, and average winter lows of 9.3°F. The established crops are soybeans, corn, hay.
How affordable is land and property here?: The median home price is $152,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.9%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?: Broadband reaches 99.3% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?: Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital and Clinic is 1.9 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.

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Data sources

Verified June 2026

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.