How much does it cost to rent in Tea, SD?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Tea, SD is $1,257. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Tea cheaper than other South Dakota cities?

Tea falls in the middle range for South Dakota, ranking #5 out of 8 cities at $1,257/mo.

When was Tea rent data last updated?

Tea rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · SD

Tea

Name: Average Rent Prices in Tea, SD
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 6,786·5th most expensive in South Dakota·Rents have been falling, good time to negotiate

Median rent (all units)

$1,257/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

-4.0%

vs US Median

-$708

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Tea · $1,257

More affordable than 90% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Affordability

13% of income

VERY AFFORDABLE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,257/mo, rent takes about 13% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$50,000/yr

Local median income

$120,139/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Tea's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$860

1 BR

$1,010

2 BR

$1,180

3 BR

$1,620

4 BR+

$1,980

Research median

$1,180/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$15,084/yr

At $1,257/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are down 0.0% year-over-year. Push hard on price, concessions, and lease terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -4.0% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Tea, SD is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 47.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

6,786

Median income

$120,139

Median age

30.6

Renters

20.3%

Age distribution

36.3%

20.1%

35.4%

Under 1836.3%

18–3420.1%

35–5435.4%

55–642.7%

65+5.5%

Gender

52.8%

47.2%

Male52.8%

Female47.2%

Race & ethnicity

89.4%

White89.4%

Black5.4%

Hispanic0.7%

Asian1.4%

Other3.2%

Education (25+)

12.1%

39.6%

47.1%

No HS diploma1.3%

HS diploma12.1%

Some college39.6%

Bachelor's+47.1%

Housing tenure

79.7%

20.3%

Owner79.7%

Renter20.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Tea, SD has changed in 5 years

Income

$91,544 → $120,139

up 31.2%

Population

5,535 → 6,786

up 22.6%

Renter share

34.5% → 20.3%

-14.2 pts

Bachelor's+

42% → 47.1%

+5.1 pts

Median household income climbed from $91,544 to $120,139 between 2021 and 2024, a 31.2% shift. Census counts show Tea, SD adding about 1,251 residents over the five-year window, up 22.6% on net. The renter share has eased from 34.5% to 20.3%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 42% to 47.1% across the same window.

Community

Discussions about Tea

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View Tea rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Tea on your salary?

At $1,257/mo, how Tea rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $83,142/yr · Rent = 18.1% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $59,030/yr · Rent = 25.6% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $67,998/yr · Rent = 22.2% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $121,537/yr · Rent = 12.4% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $155,294/yr · Rent = 9.7% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $55,273/yr · Rent = 27.3% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $49,905/yr · Rent = 30.2% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $61,512/yr · Rent = 24.5% income

affordable

By apartment size

Tea rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Tea. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Tea

About renting in Tea, SD

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Tea is $1,257/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $860/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,180/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,010/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,620/mo.

At 13% of local median household income ($120,139/yr), Tea ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Tea an affordable city for renters?

Tea is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,257/mo, rent takes approximately 13% of the local median household income ($120,139/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Tea falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Tea?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $50,000/year (~$24/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,257/mo in Tea. The local median household income is $120,139/yr, meaning the typical Tea household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Tea?

Rent in Tea has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of July 2026.

How does Tea rent compare to other cities in South Dakota?

Tea is middle-of-the-pack for South Dakota for rent, ranking #5 out of 8 tracked cities at $1,257/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Tea?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Tea ($1,257/mo): Vermillion ($783/mo), Brandon ($1,202/mo).

What percentage of Tea residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 20.3% of Tea households are renters, while 79.7% are owner-occupied. Tea leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.