Families are important to the Treasure State, and HomeSnacks is here to tell you just how important. You can’t have strong families without great infrastructure, so we set out to determine where Montana’s strongest family oriented places are located. And lucky for you, this quest led us to create a list of Montana’s most family friendly places for 2026.
How did we determine Montana’s most family friendly places? We consulted the US Census on places in Big Sky Country with more than 2,000 residents. We looked at several factors: crime, education, family friendly activities, and the percent of households that currently have children. We ended up with 27 family friendly Montana places. We discovered that Montana is the fourth largest state in the United States, but the eighth least populated. We think that’s all the more reason to have your family live in one of Montana’s family friendly places: there’s plenty of mountain ranges and prairies for your kids to run, and there’s plenty of opportunity to make a difference.
We also determined that there are places in Montana for every type of family. There are hip mommy and daddy towns like Bozeman, cool cowboy/cowgirl towns like Hamilton, and towns like Whitefish for families that like to ski and snowboard. Speaking of family friendly amenities, in Montana, the big sky’s the limit. You can have your family camping in the Kootenai National Forest just outside of Libby and swimming on the Bigfork side of Flathead Lake all in the same weekend. That’s a Montana family win!
To learn more about our methodology and to see why Montana’s top ten best places to raise a family are truly the best of the best, read on.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Want to know where your salary will go the furthest for your family in the great state of South Dakota? HomeSnacks suggests that you look no further than South Dakota’s number one best place to raise a family, Elk Point.
We’re pretty sure Elk Point’s wide open spaces, safe neighborhoods, great schools, and endless, healthy activities are sure to please any family.
Want to see how your favorite South Dakota place compared, take a look below. And if you don’t see it there, head to the bottom.
More reading about South Dakota and the best places for families in the country:
- Best Places To Live In South Dakota
- Cheapest Places To Live In South Dakota
- Best Cities To Raise A Family In America
- Best States To Raise A Family In America
The 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In South Dakota For 2026
/10
Population: 2,537
Median Income: $90,473
Average Home Price: $286,243
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 39
Closest Major City: Sioux Falls
Households with kids: 39.1%
More on Elk Point: Movers
/10
Population: 2,468
Median Income: $81,761
Average Home Price: $319,061
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 58
Closest Major City: Sioux Falls
Households with kids: 35.8%
More on Lennox: Crime | Movers
/10
Population: 10,996
Median Income: $110,806
Average Home Price: $387,889
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 57
Closest Major City: Sioux Falls
Households with kids: 41.9%
More on Brandon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 6,786
Median Income: $120,139
Average Home Price: $381,055
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 36
Closest Major City: Sioux Falls
Households with kids: 64.1%
More on Tea: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 6,094
Median Income: $65,593
Average Home Price: $263,104
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 44
Closest Major City: Sioux Falls
Households with kids: 24.1%
More on Madison: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 2,360
Median Income: $78,793
Average Home Price: $323,487
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 55
Closest Major City: Sioux Falls
Households with kids: 37.2%
More on Beresford: Crime | Movers
/10
Population: 2,670
Median Income: $48,875
Average Home Price: $134,547
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 44
Closest Major City: Sioux Falls
Households with kids: 34.2%
More on Sisseton: Crime | Movers
/10
Population: 2,392
Median Income: $49,157
Average Home Price: $215,380
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 39
Closest Major City: Sioux Falls
Households with kids: 32.0%
More on Flandreau: Crime | Movers
/10
Population: 3,022
Median Income: $119,271
Average Home Price: $424,113
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 37
Closest Major City: Denver
Households with kids: 48.1%
More on Summerset: Crime | Movers
/10
Population: 23,948
Median Income: $63,493
Average Home Price: $312,177
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 54
Closest Major City: Sioux Falls
Households with kids: 21.3%
More on Brookings: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in South Dakota anyways?
To give you the places in South Dakota that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of South Dakota, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 2,000 people. For South Dakota, that meant a total of 27 cities.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best cities for families in South Dakota.
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In South Dakota
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in South Dakota ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in South Dakota are Elk Point, Lennox, Brandon, Tea, Madison, Beresford, Sisseton, Flandreau, Summerset, and Brookings.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles South Dakota according to the data:
- Sturgis
- Belle Fourche
- Box Elder
For more South Dakota reading, check out:
- Most Dangerous Cities In South Dakota
- Cheapest Places To Live In South Dakota
- Worst Places To Live In South Dakota
Best Places For Families In South Dakota
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elk Point, SD | 2,537 | $90,473 | $286,243 | 56 |
| 2 | Lennox, SD | 2,468 | $81,761 | $319,061 | 36 |
| 3 | Brandon, SD | 10,996 | $110,806 | $387,889 | 30 |
| 4 | Tea, SD | 6,786 | $120,139 | $381,055 | 46 |
| 5 | Madison, SD | 6,094 | $65,593 | $263,104 | 44 |
| 6 | Beresford, SD | 2,360 | $78,793 | $323,487 | 61 |
| 7 | Sisseton, SD | 2,670 | $48,875 | $134,547 | 56 |
| 8 | Flandreau, SD | 2,392 | $49,157 | $215,380 | 34 |
| 9 | Summerset, SD | 3,022 | $119,271 | $424,113 | 31 |
| 10 | Brookings, SD | 23,948 | $63,493 | $312,177 | 57 |