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Buying a home in Alcester, South Dakota

The typical owner-occupied home in Alcester is worth about $125,800, 51% below the South Dakota median of $257,400 and 62% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,726 a year in property taxes, about 1.37% of their home's value, higher than the South Dakota rate of 1.06%. The median household earns $57,000 a year, so the median home costs 2.2 times the median income (3.4 times for South Dakota). 69% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 63% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Alcester at a glance

Alcester South Dakota U.S.
Median home value $125,800 $257,400 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,726 $2,724 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.37% 1.06% 0.94%
Median household income $57,000 $75,081 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 69% 69% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 63% 54% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,016 $1,680 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 21.3% 20.4% 21.0%
Median rent $688 $946 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 21.9% 25.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1970 1980 1980
Vacant homes 7.0% 10.5% 10.1%
Population 989 907,428 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Alcester

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Alcester home of $125,800 with 20% down costs about $873 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,083, 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 $37,416 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 18% of the median Alcester household income of $57,000; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $192,000.

The median rent here is $688 a month, so owning the median home costs about $185 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$25,160
Loan amount$100,640
Principal and interest$677
Property taxes (1.37% a year)$144
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$52
PMI$0
Total per month$873

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$4,403
Loan amount$123,521
Principal and interest$831
Property taxes (1.37% a year)$144
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$52
FHA mortgage insurance$56
Total per month$1,083

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Questions about home buying in Alcester

What is the median home value in Alcester?

About $125,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Alcester?

Homeowners pay a median $1,726 a year, which is about 1.37% 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 Alcester?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $873 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $37,416 a year.

More about Alcester

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