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As of 2026, the landscape for women in the workforce continues to evolve, yet significant challenges remain. Issues such as gender pay gaps, underrepresentation in leadership roles, and disparities in healthcare access persist across the United States. In South Dakota, these challenges vary dramatically by location, impacting women’s experiences and opportunities.
We have analyzed various cities in South Dakota to identify those where women face the greatest obstacles. Understanding these disparities is essential for fostering change and improving conditions for women statewide.
Continue reading to discover which cities ranked as the worst for women in South Dakota and the criteria we used to evaluate them.
The 10 Worst Cities For Women In South Dakota
These cities represent the most challenging environments for women in South Dakota. Read on to understand the factors contributing to these rankings, or skip to the end for insights into the best cities for women in the state.
Methodology – How We Determined The Worst Cities For Women In South Dakota
Each city was evaluated based on four key metrics:
- Percentage Of Women In Management (Lower percentages indicate fewer opportunities)
- Percentage Of Women Living In Poverty (Higher percentages are indicative of economic challenges)
- Women’s Earnings Compared To Men’s (Lower ratios reflect greater pay disparities)
- Uninsured Women (Higher percentages suggest inadequate healthcare access)
For income disparity, we utilized the Census’ American Community Survey. By calculating the ratio of median male earnings to median female earnings, we highlighted the financial gaps women face.
To assess poverty levels, we also sourced data from the ACS, focusing on women living without relatives. This demographic generally includes younger individuals who may have lower earnings, thus reflecting a more acute poverty rate.
We examined the percentage of women in management roles to gauge leadership opportunities available to women, recognizing that women in leadership often create pathways for other women.
Lastly, we again referenced the ACS for statistics on uninsured women in each city.
Our analysis focused exclusively on South Dakota cities with populations exceeding 5,000.
1. Belle Fourche
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.61
Women In Management: 12.9%
Women In Poverty: 13.5%
Women Uninsured: 11.9%
Belle Fourche ranks as the most challenging city for women in South Dakota, with low representation in management and significant poverty and uninsured rates. These factors contribute to a difficult environment for women seeking to thrive.
2. Vermillion
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.68
Women In Management: 36.0%
Women In Poverty: 32.8%
Women Uninsured: 7.9%
Vermillion is the second most challenging city for women, marked by a high poverty rate and limited economic opportunities.
3. Huron
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.73
Women In Management: 32.3%
Women In Poverty: 25.6%
Women Uninsured: 5.9%
Women in Huron face a challenging landscape with a low percentage in leadership roles and a notable portion living in poverty.
4. Sturgis
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.51
Women In Management: 43.0%
Women In Poverty: 13.2%
Women Uninsured: 15.5%
Sturgis is ranked fourth, with a significant percentage of uninsured women and a notable poverty rate among single women.
5. Tea
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.62
Women In Management: 22.6%
Women In Poverty: 4.4%
Women Uninsured: 6.2%
Tea presents slightly better opportunities for women compared to the top four cities, yet challenges remain in terms of income and management representation.
6. Rapid City
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.80
Women In Management: 39.6%
Women In Poverty: 17.7%
Women Uninsured: 11.1%
Rapid City ranks sixth, where women face a significant likelihood of living in poverty despite having a relatively higher management representation.
7. Aberdeen
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.73
Women In Management: 36.3%
Women In Poverty: 16.1%
Women Uninsured: 7.1%
In Aberdeen, women encounter high poverty and low management presence, presenting significant barriers to advancement.
8. Rapid Valley
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.73
Women In Management: 24.5%
Women In Poverty: 12.6%
Women Uninsured: 8.5%
Rapid Valley presents significant challenges, with a notable percentage of women living in poverty and underrepresentation in management roles.
9. Watertown
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.63
Women In Management: 39.8%
Women In Poverty: 16.5%
Women Uninsured: 5.6%
Watertown faces a significant pay gap for women, along with a considerable portion living in poverty, highlighting ongoing economic disparities.
10. Brookings
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.63
Women In Management: 38.2%
Women In Poverty: 17.3%
Women Uninsured: 4.2%
Brookings rounds out the list, where women still contend with high poverty rates and significant pay disparities, despite slightly better opportunities than other cities on this list.
Summary Of The Worst Cities For Women In South Dakota
These cities represent the most significant hurdles for women in South Dakota, reflecting a range of economic and social challenges. While conditions for women continue to improve in some regions, these cities illustrate the disparities that persist.
Although individual experiences may vary greatly, the data indicates that women in these locations often confront systemic obstacles that impede their advancement and well-being.
Check out the detailed list below for more insights.
Detailed List Of The Worst Cities For Women In South Dakota
| Rank | Place | Pay Gap |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belle Fourche | $0.61 |
| 2 | Vermillion | $0.68 |
| 3 | Huron | $0.73 |
| 4 | Sturgis | $0.51 |
| 5 | Tea | $0.62 |
| 6 | Rapid City | $0.80 |
| 7 | Aberdeen | $0.73 |
| 8 | Rapid Valley | $0.73 |
| 9 | Watertown | $0.63 |
| 10 | Brookings | $0.63 |
| 11 | Box Elder | $0.62 |
| 12 | Spearfish | $0.65 |
| 13 | Mitchell | $0.67 |
| 14 | Sioux Falls | $0.78 |
| 15 | Pierre | $0.73 |
| 16 | Yankton | $0.89 |
| 17 | Madison | $1.53 |
| 18 | Brandon | $0.64 |
| 19 | Harrisburg | $0.76 |
Author
Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.
