Tea, SD

Full City Profile · South Dakota · Lincoln County County

3.8 /5.0

B+ Good

6,339 Population 1,673/sq mi density

$104,643 Median Income $39,177 per capita

$305,300 Home Value $375,113 Zillow

$1,113 Median Rent 24.9% income on rent

46°F Avg Temperature 291 sunny days/yr

136 Violent Crime/100K 1,628 property/100K

B+

Overall

3.8 / 5.0

Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education

A+

Economy

5.0 / 5.0

$104,643 median income, 1.6% unemployment

A+

Affordability

5.0 / 5.0

$305,300 home value, $1,113/mo rent

Safety

1.0 / 5.0

136 violent crimes/100K

Education

4.3 / 5.0

41.4% bachelor's degree or higher

Tea experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 46°F (8°C). Winters average 16°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. The area gets 291 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 27.8 inches. The area receives 36.1 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35.

Temperature

16°F Jan (-9°C) 73°F Jul (23°C)

Annual Average	45.7°F
	15% below US avg
January Average	16°F (-9°C)
July Average	73°F (23°C)
Sunny Days	291 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	1,489 ft (454 m)
Area	1.7 sq mi (4.4 km²)
Population Density	1,673/sq mi
Coordinates	43.4556°N, 96.8240°W
Timezone	America/Chicago
County	Lincoln County County
Nearest Airport	Joe Foss Field (FSD) 10 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 27.8"

27% below US avg

Snowfall 36.1"

Wettest Month (Jun) 3.66"

Driest Month (Jan) 0.47"

Air Quality

AQI Median	35.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Relatively Low
Risk Score	63.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability	10.6 / 100
Community Resilience	97.6 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado	Relatively High
Earthquake	Very Low
Wildfire	Relatively Low
Flood	Relatively Low
Hail	Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind	Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave	Relatively Low
Winter Weather	Relatively High
Lightning	Relatively Low
Ice Storm	Relatively High
Drought	Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave	Relatively Low
Landslide	Very Low

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

5 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.6. Most recent: M2.5 on Mar 6, 2024.

Oct 25, 1990	8 km N of Plankinton, South Dakota	M3.6	138 km
Feb 6, 1996	1 km N of Wausa, Nebraska	M3.6	120 km
Jan 4, 2021	5 km N of Tyndall, South Dakota	M3.1	96 km
Jan 16, 2022	9 km NE of Plankinton, South Dakota	M2.5	131 km
Mar 6, 2024	6 km SSE of Santee, Nebraska	M2.5	109 km

Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

648 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF5. Total: 11 fatalities, 271 injuries.

Date	Rating	Distance	Fatalities
Jun 16, 1992	EF5	75 km	1
Jun 25, 2010	EF4	71 km	0
May 30, 1998	EF4	76 km	6
Jun 7, 1993	EF4	60 km	0
Jun 7, 1993	EF4	30 km	0
Jun 16, 1992	EF4	92 km	0
Jul 28, 1986	EF4	87 km	0
Jun 7, 1965	EF4	46 km	1
Aug 7, 1994	EF3	79 km	0
Jun 7, 1993	EF3	49 km	0
Jun 7, 1993	EF3	53 km	0
Jun 7, 1993	EF3	62 km	0
May 7, 1993	EF3	42 km	0
Jun 16, 1992	EF3	90 km	0
Apr 20, 1985	EF3	76 km	0
Aug 3, 1981	EF3	33 km	0
Jul 5, 1978	EF3	42 km	0
May 31, 1971	EF3	75 km	0
Jun 15, 1970	EF3	78 km	0
Sep 22, 1968	EF3	78 km	0

Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	16°F (-9°C)	0.5 in	Coldest, Driest
February	21°F (-6°C)	0.6 in
March	33°F (1°C)	1.5 in
April	47°F (8°C)	2.4 in
May	59°F (15°C)	3.1 in
June	69°F (21°C)	3.7 in	Wettest
July	73°F (23°C)	2.9 in	Warmest
August	71°F (22°C)	3.0 in
September	62°F (17°C)	2.7 in
October	49°F (9°C)	1.8 in
November	32°F (0°C)	1.1 in
December	19°F (-7°C)	0.6 in

Tea has a seasonal temperature swing of 57°F / from 16°F in January to 73°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 24.0 inches, with June being the wettest month (3.7") and January the driest (0.5").

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