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Buying a home in White River, South Dakota

The typical owner-occupied home in White River is worth about $75,000, 71% below the South Dakota median of $257,400 and 77% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $924 a year in property taxes, about 1.23% of their home's value, higher than the South Dakota rate of 1.06%. The median household earns $82,692 a year, so the median home costs 0.9 times the median income (3.4 times for South Dakota). 51% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 18% of those owners still have a mortgage.

White River at a glance

White River South Dakota U.S.
Median home value $75,000 $257,400 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $924 $2,724 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.23% 1.06% 0.94%
Median household income $82,692 $75,081 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 51% 69% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 18% 54% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage – $1,680 $1,963
Median rent $1,125 $946 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 17.4% 25.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1965 1980 1980
Vacant homes 21.9% 10.5% 10.1%
Population 606 907,428 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in White River

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median White River home of $75,000 with 20% down costs about $512 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $637, 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 $21,932 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 7% of the median White River household income of $82,692; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $283,000.

The median rent here is $1,125 a month, a little more than the monthly cost of owning the median home with 20% down.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$15,000
Loan amount$60,000
Principal and interest$404
Property taxes (1.23% a year)$77
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$31
PMI$0
Total per month$512

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$2,625
Loan amount$73,642
Principal and interest$495
Property taxes (1.23% a year)$77
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$31
FHA mortgage insurance$33
Total per month$637

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Questions about home buying in White River

What is the median home value in White River?

About $75,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in White River?

Homeowners pay a median $924 a year, which is about 1.23% 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 White River?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $512 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $21,932 a year.

More about White River

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