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Buying a home in Lawrence County, South Dakota

The typical owner-occupied home in Lawrence County is worth about $346,500, 35% above the South Dakota median of $257,400 and 4% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,744 a year in property taxes, about 0.79% of their home's value, lower than the South Dakota rate of 1.06%. The median household earns $73,384 a year, so the median home costs 4.7 times the median income (3.4 times for South Dakota). 65% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 52% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Lawrence County at a glance

Lawrence County South Dakota U.S.
Median home value $346,500 $257,400 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $2,744 $2,724 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.79% 1.06% 0.94%
Median household income $73,384 $75,081 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 65% 69% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 52% 54% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,693 $1,680 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 21.4% 20.4% 21.0%
Median rent $938 $946 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 25.9% 25.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1987 1980 1980
Vacant homes 18.8% 10.5% 10.1%
Population 27,233 907,428 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Lawrence County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Lawrence County home of $346,500 with 20% down costs about $2,237 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,814, 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 $95,881 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 37% of the median Lawrence County household income of $73,384; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $265,000.

The median rent here is $938 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,299 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$69,300
Loan amount$277,200
Principal and interest$1,865
Property taxes (0.79% a year)$228
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$144
PMI$0
Total per month$2,237

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$12,128
Loan amount$340,224
Principal and interest$2,289
Property taxes (0.79% a year)$228
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$144
FHA mortgage insurance$153
Total per month$2,814

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Questions about home buying in Lawrence County

What is the median home value in Lawrence County?

About $346,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Lawrence County?

Homeowners pay a median $2,744 a year, which is about 0.79% 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 Lawrence County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,237 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $95,881 a year.

More about Lawrence County

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