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Buying a home in Waubay, South Dakota

The typical owner-occupied home in Waubay is worth about $152,800, 41% below the South Dakota median of $257,400 and 54% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,500 a year in property taxes, about 0.98% of their home's value, lower than the South Dakota rate of 1.06%. The median household earns $36,389 a year, so the median home costs 4.2 times the median income (3.4 times for South Dakota). 59% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 32% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Waubay at a glance

Waubay South Dakota U.S.
Median home value $152,800 $257,400 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,500 $2,724 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.98% 1.06% 0.94%
Median household income $36,389 $75,081 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 59% 69% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 32% 54% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $992 $1,680 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 35.4% 20.4% 21.0%
Median rent $603 $946 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 10.0% 25.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1971 1980 1980
Vacant homes 42.3% 10.5% 10.1%
Population 337 907,428 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Waubay

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Waubay home of $152,800 with 20% down costs about $1,011 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,265, 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 $43,319 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 33% of the median Waubay household income of $36,389; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $128,000.

The median rent here is $603 a month, so owning the median home costs about $408 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$30,560
Loan amount$122,240
Principal and interest$822
Property taxes (0.98% a year)$125
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$64
PMI$0
Total per month$1,011

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,348
Loan amount$150,032
Principal and interest$1,009
Property taxes (0.98% a year)$125
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$64
FHA mortgage insurance$68
Total per month$1,265

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Questions about home buying in Waubay

What is the median home value in Waubay?

About $152,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Waubay?

Homeowners pay a median $1,500 a year, which is about 0.98% 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 Waubay?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,011 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $43,319 a year.

More about Waubay

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