Town guide

Jefferson, South Dakota

Jefferson is a city in Union County, South Dakota, home to about 554 people across 0.5 square miles. Its ZIP code is 57038.

Homes sold for a median of $185 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.

Population5541,086 per sq mi
Median home value$179,400Census, as estimated by owners
Price per sq ft$185Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026
Sold over asking17%Latest 3 months

ZIP codes in Jefferson

1 ZIP code

Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Jefferson. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology

The Jefferson guide is on the way

We’re writing up Jefferson’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.

  • History
  • What it’s like to live there
  • Getting around
  • Things to do

Are you a local agent who knows Jefferson well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked

Around Jefferson

Distances

Nearest major airportEppley Airfield (OMA)96 miles away
Closer regional airportSioux Gateway Airport / Brigadier General Bud Day Field (SUX)17 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+Omaha, NE96 miles away
Nearest city of 1 million+Chicago, IL458 miles away

Straight-line distances from the center of Jefferson; driving is longer.

Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Who represents Jefferson

Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.

Population over time

Jefferson had 475 residents in the 2020 census, down 19% since 2000.

It’s the 143rd largest of 440 towns in South Dakota by population.

Union County grew from 11,153 residents in 1900 to 16,811 in 2020.

Jefferson population by census2000: 586, 2010: 547, 2020: 475586200054720104752020

Union County, 1900–2020

Union County population, 1900 to 20201900: 11,153, 1910: 10,676, 1920: 11,099, 1930: 11,480, 1940: 11,675, 1950: 10,792, 1960: 10,197, 1970: 9,643, 1980: 10,938, 1990: 10,189, 2000: 12,584, 2010: 14,399, 2020: 16,81111K’00’1011K’20’3012K’40’5010K’60’7011K’80’9013K’00’1017K’20

Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).

Weather by month

Average highs peak around 86°F in summer, and winter lows average 9°F. About 30.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.

Average high and low temperature and precipitation by month near JeffersonJan: high 30°F, low 9°F, 0.7 in; Feb: high 35°F, low 13°F, 0.9 in; Mar: high 47°F, low 24°F, 1.6 in; Apr: high 61°F, low 35°F, 3.1 in; May: high 72°F, low 47°F, 4.4 in; Jun: high 82°F, low 58°F, 4.6 in; Jul: high 86°F, low 63°F, 3.4 in; Aug: high 83°F, low 61°F, 3.9 in; Sep: high 77°F, low 51°F, 3 in; Oct: high 64°F, low 37°F, 2.4 in; Nov: high 47°F, low 24°F, 1.4 in; Dec: high 34°F, low 14°F, 1 in30°9°Jan0.735°13°Feb0.947°24°Mar1.661°35°Apr3.172°47°May4.482°58°Jun4.686°63°Jul3.483°61°Aug3.977°51°Sep3.064°37°Oct2.447°24°Nov1.434°14°Dec1.0Rain and melted snow, inches

Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Sioux City Ang, IA weather station (17 miles away).

Jobs in Union County

9,844 jobs at 555 businesses in Union County. The biggest industries by employees:

Largest industries in Union CountyManufacturing: 2,283 jobs; Wholesale trade: 1,297 jobs; Company headquarters: 1,220 jobs; Health care and social assistance: 1,203 jobs; Finance and insurance: 822 jobs; Construction: 512 jobs; Retail trade: 494 jobs; Hotels and restaurants: 433 jobsManufacturing 23% Wholesale trade 13% Company headquarters 12% Health care and social assistance 12% Finance and insurance 8% Construction 5% Retail trade 5% Hotels and restaurants 4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).

Health care

2 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Jefferson.

Nearest hospitals

  • Dunes Surgical HospitalGeneral hospital · no emergency room · Dakota Dunes7.8 miles
  • St. Lukes Regional Medical CenterGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 2 of 5 · Sioux City10.5 miles
  • Mercyone Siouxland Medical CenterGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 2 of 5 · Sioux City11.7 miles

Providers with an office here

Mental health providers1
Physical and occupational therapists1

Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.

From OfferBacked · Free

Get matched with a local agent.

Buying or selling around Jefferson? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.

Get matched

Where Jefferson is

Loading map…

Towns near Jefferson

All South Dakota towns →

Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.