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Whittier

Whittier

Neighborhood in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Minnehaha County 57103

$200,869 Average Value
$169 Average Price per Sq Ft
4 Homes For Sale

The world comes to Whittier

In 2011, an eighth-grade teacher at Whittier Middle School named Lela Himmerich challenged her students to think of ways to improve the Whittier neighborhood. The students brainstormed various community development projects and ultimately proposed a new mural for Meldrum Park. Excited by the idea, she helped them flesh out the vision to propose to the City of Sioux Falls and Sioux Falls Art Council, who had been looking for ways to incorporate art into its community development. The mayor supported the project, and the Arts Council began rounding up a team of community members to help the students research the neighborhood's history and gather ideas for the mural. They hired a team of muralists, who met with community members to ensure their stories would be told in the painting. Today, Meldrum Park's mural – entitled "The World Comes to Whittier" – is a point of pride for the neighborhood, celebrating its history as one of Sioux Falls's most diverse and hardworking communities: nearly a fifth of its residents are immigrants, and nearly half of its laborers working in manufacturing.

Whittier residents are located next to several main roads that make travel easy.
Whittier residents are located next to several main roads that make travel easy.
Barb Iverson Skate Plaza is one of the largest parks in the country at 20,000 sq feet.
Barb Iverson Skate Plaza is one of the largest parks in the country at 20,000 sq feet.
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Family-owned restaurants and east downtown's development

Whittier has plenty of family-owned restaurants, like Los Paisanos, a mom-and-pop shop known for its pupusas; Tortilleria Hernandez, a cash-only spot with huge burritos; and Manna Bakery, which sells both street tacos and baked goods out of a Space Age stone building with a sloped roof. Whittier borders the eastern end of downtown, which has seen extensive commercial and residential development in recent years. "Lots of new apartments have been opening on 8th and 10th Streets," says South Dakota State Representative Kadyn Wittman. She recommends trying Roots of Brasil, a newer Brazilian restaurant in that area, and local Realtor Andy Kontz suggests grabbing a drink at Remedy Brewing Company, a converted warehouse with a brewery and taproom. While in the area, patrons can shop from local businesses like Plum's Cooking Company and Juniper Apothecary. Whittier residents pick up groceries in the neighborhood from cuisine-specific grocery stores like Tienda America, Nikki's La Mexicana and East African Grocery Store, and they do full trips to find everything from shelf staples to fresh meat and produce at Franklin Food Market, just north of Whittier Park.

Los Paisanos can be found on E 10th St near Whittier.
Los Paisanos can be found on E 10th St near Whittier.
Visit the East African Grocery Store for authentic goods in Whittier.
Visit the East African Grocery Store for authentic goods in Whittier.
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Arts and entertainment in downtown Sioux Falls

Whitter is just east of downtown Sioux Falls, the city's center for arts and entertainment. Here, they can attend Broadway shows, concerts, comedy and dance performances at the Washington Pavilion, which also houses hands-on science exhibits and the state's largest art museum. Each summer, the outdoor music venue Levitt at the Falls hosts 50 free concerts for the community. "The Levitt is an outdoor music amphitheater, and there's only a handful of them across the nation," Wittman says. "The Sioux Falls Levitt has the highest attendance rate in the entire nation." Wittman enjoys the ample arts and entertainment opportunities provided by downtown but attests that even when nothing's going on, there's always something to do. "Even if you aren't doing anything on a Friday night, if you own a convertible, you can go for a cruise downtown," she says. The city's cruising culture has mostly died off since 2003 when Mayor Dave Munson closed off a portion of The Loop – a downtown route that was popular for teens to lap in the 1950s and '60s – but a peaceful drive through the city at night is still possible. For many, its historic architecture is best enjoyed under the soft light of the city's old-school streetlamps, where one might spot laughing families leaving restaurants, excited teens catching shows at the Sioux Falls State Theatre and starry-eyed couples going for evening strolls hand in hand.

Crawford's offers flavorful dishes, innovative cocktails near Whittier.
Crawford's offers flavorful dishes, innovative cocktails near Whittier.
Whittier residents enjoy old and new movies at the Sioux Falls State Theatre.
Whittier residents enjoy old and new movies at the Sioux Falls State Theatre.
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Walking around Whittier and downtown

Though Whittier is primarily residential, the neighborhood has parks, restaurants and grocery stores throughout, and sidewalks make it fairly pedestrian-friendly. This neighborhood's southern and western parts are definitely the most walkable, as businesses concentrate on and around 10th Street and its western edge is closest to downtown. Whitter is located immediately east of downtown, so many residents live less than a mile away and can generally walk downtown in 20 to 30 minutes. For motorists it'll be a five minutes drive, for cyclists 10 minutes and for those who take the bus 15 minutes. McKennan Hospital is the closest medical center, at a mile and a half south of the neighborhood and the Sioux Falls Regional Airport is just over 3 miles north.

Whittier is just minutes from downtown Sioux Falls.
Whittier is just minutes from downtown Sioux Falls.
Manna Bakery has fresh baked goods in the center of Whittier.
Manna Bakery has fresh baked goods in the center of Whittier.
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Well-maintained early 20th-century homes

Whittier's homes were mostly built in the early 20th century, and primarily consist of minimal traditional styles like cottages and American Foursquares. Most homes are single-family, though there are some are multi-family units in the neighborhood, as well as a few small condo complexes. The neighborhood's streets are quaint and unassuming but generally well-cared for. The condition of Whittier's homes and yards suggests great attention to detail and the preservation of existing architecture. Each home offers its own architectural elements and influences from various movements, like the Arts and Crafts and Tudor styles can be seen throughout the community. Details like slated stonework around front doors or hand-carved wooden beams along rooftops add an element of ornamentation that isn't found in some of the area's newer neighborhoods. Some homes also feature screened-in porches. Home values in Whittier tend to fall between $150,000 and $300,000.

Many Whittier homes have a front porch.
Many Whittier homes have a front porch.
You will find homes in all shapes and sizes around Whittier.
You will find homes in all shapes and sizes around Whittier.
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Meldrum Park's mural celebrates the Whittier’s diversity

Whitter has three parks within the neighborhood – Whittier Park on the northern side, Heritage Park on the western side and Meldrum Park on the eastern side. Much of Whittier Park will soon be a construction site, as its football field is being compromised to build the new campus for Whittier Middle School. Its playground and picnic pavilion, however, should remain. Heritage Park and Meldrum Park both have basketball courts and playgrounds, and Meldrum Park features a colorful mural that resulted from a collaboration between neighborhood residents, Whittier Middle School students and the Sioux Falls Arts Council to research the neighborhood's history and celebrate its diversity with a mural called "The World Comes to Whittier."

Meldrum park features a large mural.
Meldrum park features a large mural.
Meldrum park has a playground for the kids.
Meldrum park has a playground for the kids.
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A new campus in the works for Whittier Middle School

Students in Whittier attend Terry Redlin Elementary School, which has a B-minus on Niche, followed by Whittier Middle School, which has a C-plus. The Sioux Falls School District plans to replace Whittier Middle School's more than 100-year-old campus with a completely new one by 2030. In the meantime, students will continue to attend school at Whitter's current campus. "The goal is to build it off campus so they can still operate the existing school," says Jeff Kreiter, Operational Services Director at the Sioux Falls School District. In June 2024, the Sioux Falls School Board chose a site for the new building. "We had a community group that vetted different options for building plans and made the one that was least impactful to the neighborhood," Kreiter says. According to this plan, the district will purchase 29 homes and one church between Fourth and Fifth along Indiana and Fairfax Avenue. After middle school, students attend the A-minus-rated Lincoln High School and can supplement their core classes with career- and trade-specific training at the district's Career and Technical Education Academy.

Whittier Middle School is part of the Sioux Falls Public School district.
Whittier Middle School is part of the Sioux Falls Public School district.
Terry Redlin Elementary School serves students in grades PK, K-5.
Terry Redlin Elementary School serves students in grades PK, K-5.
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Ellen Daly
Written By
Ellen Daly
Seth Johanson
Photography Contributed By
Seth Johanson
Paris Lape
Video By
Paris Lape

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Chris Chase, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Joe Foss Field

21 min drive

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Whittier US
Homicide 5 4
Sexual Assault 6 4
Assault with Weapon 6 4
Robbery 6 4
Burglary 6 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 5 4
Larceny 6 4
Crime Score 6 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$215,000
Median Single Family Price
$215,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$169
Number of Homes for Sale
4
Last 12 months Home Sales
38
Months of Supply
1.30
Median List Price
$212,450
Median Discount From 1st List Price
0%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
10%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
890
Median Year Built
1920
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,163
Significantly below the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,703
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
5,662

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Chris Chase, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
2,774
Median Age
38
Population Density
21 ppl/acre
Population under 18
24.6%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
13.5%
Below the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$57,975
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$60,527

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
79.5%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
18.5%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
8.2%
% Population in Labor Force
73%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
28''
Average Winter Low Temperature
9°F
Average Summer High Temperature
85°F
Annual Snowfall
45''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

47 / 100

Very Walkable

Walk Score®

73 / 100

Minimal Transit

Transit Score®

24 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

Reviews

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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Whittier
Chris Chase
Results Real Estate
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