Real Estate Investing in Clay County, South Dakota

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

3 ZIP codes • Population: 14,066

Should you buy in Clay County, SD? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (61/100)

Mixed signals β€” some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

πŸ“ˆ For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 12.1% of homes vacant β€” above national norms.

What’s happening in Clay County, SD?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

County-wide average

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

7.9% 5yr CAGR

5.0/ 5

Landlord Climate

Regulatory friendliness

Avg Investability β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…
Avg Home Value $303,320
Avg Monthly Rent $841
ZIP Codes 3

Investing in Clay County Real Estate

Across Clay County's 3 ZIPs, the picture is lackluster β€” soft rents, slow appreciation, and demographic headwinds that don't obviously reverse in the medium term.

clearly Clay County's β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜† aggregate rating reflects sluggish investor metrics across the board β€” soft rent growth, soft appreciation, and structural headwinds worth taking seriously.

Clay County's population trends and income levels suggest a region where affordability is strained, constraining how aggressively rents can rise without hurting collections.

A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in Clay County, SD. Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Avg Home Value
$303,320
Avg Monthly Rent
$841
1% Rule
βœ— Below
Landlord Friendly (SD)
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

πŸ“‰ Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Vermillion, SD metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
0%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings β†’

πŸŽ“ Colleges & Universities in Clay County

1 College 9,868 Students 355 Off-Campus Renters
C+
University of South Dakota
4-Year Public Β· 9,868 students
πŸ“ ~355 students rent off-campus

Cities in Clay County

ZIP Codes in Clay County, SD

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Filter this county’s ZIPs by cap rate, vacancy, appreciation and 30+ more criteria, and export your shortlist to CSV — with the Investor plan ($19/mo). Add weekly alerts when these markets move with Investor Pro+.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Clay County

Are homes affordable in, SD?

Typical homes in, SD go for around $303K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% consistent price movement.

What are vacancy rates like in, SD?

Vacancy risk in, SD is elevated. That supports stable cash flow for typical rental holds.

Is it easy to find good tenants in, SD?

, SD offers a measured renter base at the $841/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

How does, SD compare to the SD average?

Versus statewide SD, is broadly in line with. Its 3.0/5 investability score reflects that position.

Community Ratings

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