A South Dakota municipality balancing character with economic influence
In Aberdeen, growth isn’t limited to an agricultural industry pumping out products like soybeans and beef. Rather, this South Dakota city of 28,000 — the third-largest in the state — has attracted new manufacturers like Smack Pet Foods and Harris Machine Company in recent years. Revitalization efforts in Aberdeen’s walkable downtown have helped pave the way for new restaurants and other small businesses. A new Aberdeen Technical Education Center opened in 2015 for area students, too. All the while, whether someone wants new construction or a classic home, housing remains relatively affordable. “You can still actually let your kids ride their bike to school,” says Eric Vetter, a Realtor with Century 21 Investment Realtors and a longtime Aberdeen resident. “If you forget to lock your door there’s a good chance your vehicle’s not going to get stolen. It’s that larger community with the family, small-town feel.”
Aberdeen has many major industries in the area such as AGP.
Aberdeen has many large industries throughout the community such as DemKota Ranch Beef.
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From fixer-upper to recently finished, Aberdeen’s housing market is broad
Aberdeen still has homes dating back to the late 19th century, around the time when the city was founded, in 1881. Many of these gable-front houses and bungalows are located in the heart of Aberdeen, near downtown, and sell for between $60,000 and $300,000. On the opposite end of the spectrum, new homes are popping up in spots, including the north end of town off 388th Avenue. “The construction’s going,” Vetter says. “They can’t get them built fast enough around here.” New construction sells for $360,000 to $450,000. Houses around the area’s golf courses, like those in Prairiewood Village by the Moccasin Creek Country Club, are popular as well and go for $310,000 to $520,000. The average sale price in Aberdeen is $256,800 and listings sell after 45 days, nearly matching the national average of 44. “Under 150,000 is probably going to require some work of some sort,” Vetter says. “But there’s a wide range of houses, from low end all the way to high end. So you should be able to find what you’re looking for.”
There are many new neighborhoods with new construction found in Aberdeen.
There are many older homes near downtown Aberdeen.
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Whether in health care or manufacturing, Aberdeen is a hub for jobs
Aberdeen earned the nickname “Hub City” in the 19th century because of its numerous railroad lines. This city is still an economic hub of sorts in the region. Agriculture is a major industry, but healthcare is as well. The 139-bed Avera St. Luke's Hospital and 48-bed Sanford Aberdeen Medical Center are among Aberdeen's biggest employers. Manufacturers like 3M and Banner Engineering have significant footprints and, more recently, companies like Smack Pet Foods and Harris Machine Company chose Aberdeen for new facilities. “We have people that travel from about 100 miles away to do business in Aberdeen,” Vetter says. “These smaller communities have real estate opportunities, too, but a lot of people in those smaller communities drive to Aberdeen for work.
Beccuase of the railroad traffic, Aberdeen has been known as the Hub City for many years.
Residents of Aberdeen are lucky to have full-service healthcare from Avera St. Lukes.
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Downtown’s selection of amenities is getting deeper
Groups like the nonprofit Aberdeen Downtown Association and investment firm Hub City Downtown have worked to foster activity in the city’s downtown, and several new businesses have opened there in recent years. They’re filling a walkable sector of town full of classic brick buildings and glass storefronts. The Dacotah Prairie Museum is downtown and is dedicated to the area’s history. “They do a lot of different events around certain times of the year downtown, which has drawn more businesses and more people,” Vetter says. “There are more apartments that are being built downtown, more restaurants that are coming in. Downtown has definitely gotten more popular in the last couple of years.”
Events downtown include a free concert series once a month from June to August. The historic Capitol Cinema, which dates to 1926, hosts a four-day film festival in September. The Gypsy Day Parade each fall includes all sorts of bands and floats and is part of homecoming festivities for the city’s Northern State University.
The Dacotah Prairie Museum is a great place to learn about the history of Aberdeen.
Students and Aberdeen residents love to catch the football game at Northern State University.
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Storybook Land leans on Oz connection
Outdoor activity is ingrained in Aberdeen’s fabric. Melgaard Park is a prominent spot for frisbee golf or taking the kids to the playground. Wylie Park features trails, a zoo and is home to Storybook Land, open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. “Wylie, Storybook Land is a huge, huge attraction for us,” Vetter says. Storybook Land is a theme park centered around nursery rhymes, including a selection on the Wizard of Oz. Author L. Frank Baum, who published the original “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” in 1900, lived in Aberdeen for a period in the late 19th century. Pheasant hunting is popular as well in the fall and winter, even drawing in hunters from out of town. The city’s Strode Activity Center & Aberdeen Dome offers indoor recreation opportunities, with a weight room and gymnasium.
Aberdeen has warm summers and chilly winters. The city averages 37 inches of snow a year. South Dakota averages 22 tornadoes each year, according to statistics compiled by the Argus Leader.
Malgaard Park has a firsbee golf course for all to enjoy year round.
Wylie Park has many options for all to enjoy near Aberdeen.
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Local airport is a connection out of town
Aberdeen Regional Airport offers daily flights to the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport through Delta, which local travelers regularly take advantage of to connect to flights elsewhere. Ride Line is a public transportation option in town, offering pickups Monday through Friday for $2 a ride. Rides must be reserved by 4 p.m. the day before. U.S. Routes 12 and 281 are the major roadways in town.
Traveling to and from Aberdeen is a breeze with the Aberdeen Regional Airport.
Aberdeen Ride Line is a great way to get around the Aberdeen community.
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Career-centered opportunities are available at Central High
The city’s Aberdeen School District earns a B grade on Niche. The relatively new Aberdeen Technical Education Center is on the campus of the district’s B-rated Central High and has instruction in topics ranging from finance to marketing. The B-plus-rated Roncalli Middle/High School is a private option and is in the top five of Niche’s list of South Dakota’s best private schools.
The public, four-year Northern State University has a 72-acre campus in town and offers guaranteed scholarships to incoming freshmen with amounts based on their GPAs and standardized test scores.
Lincoln Elementary School is part of the Aberdeen Public School System.
Students love attending Roncalli Primary School.
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Crime
According to Aberdeen Police Department data, overall crime dropped about 19% from 2022 to 2023.
Written By
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GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Aberdeen, SD sell after 54 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Aberdeen, SD over the last 12 months is $237,500, up 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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