Is Aberdeen, South Dakota a good place to live? How is the quality of life?

Aberdeen, South Dakota, is a community of about 26,000 people, fairly small and quiet by the standards of most of the United States. It can be a good place to live depending on a person’s standards, needs, and values. The area is strongly conservative and values independence, traditional family, and the Christian religion, although you will also find that alcohol is considered a necessity for any gathering. There is also widespread private marijuana use, though this hasn’t yet been legalized. The schools are mediocre, but safer than most; a teenager here is more likely to die driving drunk than be shot or otherwise involved in school violence. Jobs are few and low-paying, mostly consisting of retail, manufacturing, and meat-processing. In general, people here are fairly safe, but not happy.