Is Sanborn County, SD good for real estate investing?

Sanborn County has an investment score of 43/100, rated as "Avoid". The county ranks #721 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the median home price in Sanborn?

The median home price in Sanborn County is $226,489. This ranks #485 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Sanborn?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Sanborn County would generate positive cash flow of $0/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Sanborn County

South DakotaPopulation: 2,373

/100

Avoid

#721 of 1,000 counties

#45 in South Dakota (50 counties)

Analysis by RentalCalcs ResearchIndependent data + algorithm-driven scoring

Updated January 1, 2026Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, US Census ACS, Tax Foundation

Market Snapshot

$226,489

Median Home Price

1% below national median

$13,685/mo

Est. Rent

Based on regional data

6.04%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Estimated from price data

+$0

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Median Home Price

Median Rent

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

43/100

Cash Flow(30%)

0/100

Rent data not available for cash flow calculation.

Appreciation(25%)

12/100

Based on -6.3% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

78/100

Price-to-income ratio of 3.4x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Affordable relative to local incomes

Challenges

-Declining home values (-6.3% YoY)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 0.0% < mortgage rate 6.9%)
-Limited rent data (estimates used)

Economic Indicators

Population

2,373

Median Income

$65,806

vs $54,921 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

3.4x

Moderately affordable

Who this market fits

Skip if

−You can't tolerate negative leverage (cap rate below mortgage rate today)
−You expect appreciation to carry the deal, but prices have declined year over year
−You want a market with broad institutional consensus on fundamentals

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
SullySD	48	$259,224	Est. pending	—	Hold	View
CodingtonSD	48	$335,019	$1,000	3.58%	Hold	View
ButteSD	46	$352,137	Est. pending	—	Hold	View
CampbellSD	46	$190,297	Est. pending	—	Hold	View
CurrentSanbornSD	43	$226,489	Est. pending	—	Avoid
LawrenceSD	41	$438,033	$1,593	4.36%	Avoid	View

The Bottom Line

AvoidSanborn may be challenging for traditional rentals. High prices or low rents make cash flow difficult.

Sanborn County in South Dakota scores 43/100, ranking #721 of 1,000 US counties (top 92%). At 20% down and current rates, a median-priced rental roughly breaks even on cash flow. The deal works on appreciation or with better terms, not on month-one cash flow.

Monthly Cash Flow

+$0/mo

Cap Rate

0.0%

Cash-on-Cash

0.0%