Home / Home Buying by state / South Dakota / Buffalo County / Fort Thompson

Buying a home in Fort Thompson, South Dakota

The typical owner-occupied home in Fort Thompson is worth about $150,000, 42% below the South Dakota median of $257,400 and 55% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $199 a year in property taxes, about 0.13% of their home's value, lower than the South Dakota rate of 1.06%. The median household earns $47,159 a year, so the median home costs 3.2 times the median income (3.4 times for South Dakota). 39% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 5% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Fort Thompson at a glance

Fort Thompson South Dakota U.S.
Median home value $150,000 $257,400 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $199 $2,724 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.13% 1.06% 0.94%
Median household income $47,159 $75,081 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 39% 69% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 5% 54% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage – $1,680 $1,963
Median rent $563 $946 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 22.9% 25.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1974 1980 1980
Vacant homes 12.7% 10.5% 10.1%
Population 1,147 907,428 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Fort Thompson

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Fort Thompson home of $150,000 with 20% down costs about $886 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,136, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $37,971 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 23% of the median Fort Thompson household income of $47,159; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $186,000.

The median rent here is $563 a month, so owning the median home costs about $323 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$30,000
Loan amount$120,000
Principal and interest$807
Property taxes (0.13% a year)$16
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$62
PMI$0
Total per month$886

Change the numbers in the calculator

3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,250
Loan amount$147,283
Principal and interest$991
Property taxes (0.13% a year)$16
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$62
FHA mortgage insurance$66
Total per month$1,136

Change the numbers in the calculator

Questions about home buying in Fort Thompson

What is the median home value in Fort Thompson?

About $150,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Fort Thompson?

Homeowners pay a median $199 a year, which is about 0.13% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Fort Thompson?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $886 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $37,971 a year.

More about Fort Thompson

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data