Yankton 75 Excellent
Yankton Livability #26 ranked city in South Dakota#3,551 ranked city in the USARanks better than 87% of areas

Pros and Cons of Living in Yankton

PROS
  • Cost Of Living

    Everyday cost of living expenses like goods and services, housing, groceries, transportation, health care and utilities are far below the national average.

  • Housing

    Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.

  • Health & Safety

    Accessible health facilities like hospitals, doctors offices, clinics and nursing homes as well as good air quality are all factors that have led to a high score in this category.

  • Ratings

    According to recent surveys and polls, locals had excellent ratings for walkability to nearby amenities, safety, access to public transit and the overall sense of community in the area.

CONS
  • Amenities

    The majority of amenities will be difficult to reach within a short walk, often requiring residents to use a vehicle or public transportation for access.

  • Commute

    Low commute scores could be due to limited access to public transit in this area, as well as longer-than-average work commute times for residents.

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What's it like Living in Yankton?

Yankton is a mid-sized city located in the state of South Dakota. The city has a population of 14,619 residents. If we look at the most recent Census, Yankton is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are American Indian and Alaskan and Black. If you're not a fan of traffic congestion and long commute times to work, Yankton is the place to be. Commutes to work here are shorter, with an average one-way commute time taking only 12 minutes, significantly lower than the national average of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re moving to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Yankton could be a positive experience compared to other cities in South Dakota if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Finding the best places to live in Yankton and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, cost of living, education, housing and other important metrics.

With a livability score of 75/100, Yankton is ranked #3,345 in the United States and #20 in South Dakota. Based on this score, Yankton would be considered a very livable city! If we probe a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Yankton has higher than average rankings for the following: employment (B-) and housing (A+). There is at least one category that you should be aware of in Yankton. The following was graded with a disappointing score: amenities (F).

The unemployment rate in Yankton has consistently declined over the years and currently stands well below the national average at 0.63%. This downward trend holds the potential to reduce poverty and inequality within the region, promote higher wage levels and stimulate greater economic growth. Such positive indicators signal the overall robust health of the local economy, offering a promising outlook for its residents and fostering an environment of financial well-being and prosperity.

A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Yankton excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.

Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Yankton. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Yankton are affordable. Median real estate prices in Yankton come in at $155,000, which is 5.7% higher than the South Dakota average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Yankton, the home price to income ratio is 2.9, which is 3.6% higher than the South Dakota average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Yankton

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Yankton?

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Compare Yankton, SD Livability

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      Yankton transportation information

      Statistic Yankton South Dakota National
      Average one way commute12min17min26min
      Workers who drive to work84.2%79.6%76.4%
      Workers who carpool7.8%9.1%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.3%0.5%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.7%0.5%0.6%
      Workers who walk2.7%3.8%2.8%
      Working from home3.9%5.5%4.6%
      Source: The Yankton, SD data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).