Lead is a city in Lawrence County, South Dakota, home to about 3,006 people across 2.1 square miles. Its ZIP code is 57754, and parts of 57732 are in Lead too.
Homes sold for a median of $288 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a buyer’s market.
Mostly Lead; also Central City and Deadwood
Mostly Deadwood; part is in Lead
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Lead. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Lead’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Lead well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Denver International Airport (DEN)307 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP)43 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Denver, CO315 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Chicago, IL834 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Lead; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Lead had 2,982 residents in the 2020 census, down 1% since 2000.
It’s the 28th largest of 440 towns in South Dakota by population.
Lawrence County grew from 17,897 residents in 1900 to 25,768 in 2020.
Lawrence County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 82°F in summer, and winter lows average 18°F. About 31.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 184 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Lead, SD weather station (9 miles away).
11,109 jobs at 1,248 businesses in Lawrence County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
7 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Lead.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Dentists | 3 |
|---|---|
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 1 |
| Mental health providers | 2 |
| Chiropractors | 1 |
| Pharmacies | 2 |
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.
Public schools here are run by Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead-Deadwood Middle School - 02Lead | 6–8 | 139 | Public | 7.2 mi |
| Lead-Deadwood High School - 01Lead | 9–12 | 211 | Public | 7.1 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
Buying or selling around Lead? 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.
Loading map…
Shares ZIP codes with Deadwood and Central City.
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.