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Mountain Plains, SD
Full City Profile · South Dakota · Lawrence County County
3.7
/5.0
B+
Good
412
Population
258/sq mi density
$166,641
Median Income
$132,536 per capita
$606,100
Home Value
$448,786 Zillow
47°F
Avg Temperature
276 sunny days/yr
213
Violent Crime/100K
2,828 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.7 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.5 / 5.0
$166,641 median income, 5.6% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.6 / 5.0
$606,100 home value, /mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
213 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
4.6 / 5.0
44.4% bachelor's degree or higher
Mountain Plains experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 47°F (8°C). Winters average 26°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. The area gets 276 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 21.4 inches. The area receives 70.5 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35.
Temperature
26°F Jan (-3°C)
71°F Jul (21°C)
| Annual Average | 46.5°F |
| 14% below US avg | |
| January Average | 26°F (-3°C) |
| July Average | 71°F (21°C) |
| Sunny Days | 276 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 4,292 ft (1,308 m) |
| Area | 1.6 sq mi (4.1 km²) |
| Population Density | 258/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 44.4670°N, 103.8636°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Lawrence County County |
| Nearest Airport | Ellsworth Afb (RCA) 44 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 35.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 49.3 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 35.5 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 54.0 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate |
| Flood | Relatively Low |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26°F (-3°C) | 0.8 in | Driest |
| February | 26°F (-3°C) | 0.9 in | |
| March | 32°F (-0°C) | 1.4 in | |
| April | 40°F (5°C) | 2.8 in | |
| May | 50°F (10°C) | 3.8 in | Wettest |
| June | 60°F (16°C) | 3.7 in | |
| July | 71°F (21°C) | 2.2 in | Warmest |
| August | 66°F (19°C) | 1.9 in | |
| September | 56°F (13°C) | 1.8 in | |
| October | 45°F (7°C) | 1.5 in | |
| November | 32°F (-0°C) | 0.9 in | |
| December | 25°F (-4°C) | 1.0 in | Coldest |
Mountain Plains has a seasonal temperature swing of 46°F / from 25°F in December to 71°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 22.7 inches, with May being the wettest month (3.8") and January the driest (0.8").