According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports, South Dakota has the second lowest crime rate in the nation. South Dakotans respect people and property, and in South Dakota, a neighborhood watch is a way of life, not just a program.
2nd Best
Total Crime Index Rate
3rd Best
Property Crime Rate
4th Best
Burglary Rate
4th Best
Motor Vehicle Theft
5th Best
Violent Crime Rate
5th Best
Aggravated Assault Rate
10th Best
Murder Rate
Housing
South Dakota in among the more affordable housing markets in the nation. According to Coldwell Banker the average housing cost across the nation is $423,950 while in South Dakota it is $180,667.
State
State Average
Sales Price
Savings/Loss
United States
$423,950
South Dakota
$180,667
$243,283
California
$973,895
-$549,945
Florida
$447,030
-$23,080
Illinois
$346,993
$76,957
Indiana
$215,032
$208,918
Iowa
$209,056
$214,894
Maryland
$475,922
-$51,972
Massachusetts
$655,161
-$231,211
Minnesota
$345,832
$78,118
New Jersey
$586,499
-$162,549
New York
$492,004
-$68,054
North Carolina
$232,141
$191,809
Ohio
$202,375
$221,575
Pennsylvania
$324,678
$99,272
Texas
$192,026
$231,924
K-12 Education
Number
Rank
Students per instructional computer (2006)
2.0
1st
Students per high-speed Internet -connected computer (2006)
1.9
1st
Average Math SAT score (2006)
604
4th
Average Critical Reading SAT score (2006)
590
5th
Average Writing SAT score (2006)
578
5th
Percent of Students with computer in classroom (2005)
59.0%
8th
Pupil-Teacher Ratio (2006)
14.8
11th
Estimated Public high school graduation rate (2006)
79.4%
12th
Percent of Students with computer in lab/media center (2005)
83.0%
13th
ACT Average composite score (2006)
21.8
15th
Percent of population with high school degree (2005)
88.6%
15th
Percent of population with Bachelor's degree plus (2005)
25.0%
33rd
Expenditures per pupil (2006)
$7,911
35th
Sources: Education Week's Technology Counts/2006; SD Board of Regents, www.sdbor.edu/publications/ "State Rankings"
Recreation
With four full seasons of outdoor recreational opportunities and world class, destination attractions and cultural amenitites, South Dakota offers a quality of life second to none. From fishing and water sports, hunting and hiking opportunitites, the symphony to dramatic offerings, South Dakota has something for everyone.
1,100 square miles of water
5 million acres of public hunting lands
108 golf courses
103,750 acres of state recreation areas
More than 100 Native American Powwows annually
Rankings
South Dakotas aren't the only ones to think we have the best state in the nation to work, live and play.
