Your 16k current property tax means you paid about 1.5M.

1/3 is 500k but only 3k property taxes. That’s absurdly low rate. Some Texas and NJ suburbs pay 15-20k on a 500k house. Place with ultralow property taxes like that either have few children or have a huge non residential tax base.

What makes less sense is why a long time resident of boomer age isn’t locked into a much lower rate because of an older purchase.

Vastly lower utilities? Our gas and water isn’t especially high. Our electricity is, but also is just about the cleanest mix outside of areas blessed with lots of hydro. I am OK paying a bit extra to not use coal.

New construction may be very well insulated. But when I lived in the Midwest we hated how stuffy the house would get in winter so we opened the windows a crack or two unless it was below 20. That was expensive but fresh air is worth it.

I am not against leaving SD, but the only dry and warm climate I could enjoy would be NV or AZ. Florida and south texas are too humid and insecty, everywhere else too cold.