Population 36 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Opal
Household size in Opal
| Period | Opal | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.01 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.32 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.24 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.83 | 2.48 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.18 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Opal average 2.83 people, above the national 2.65, so families with children are more common here. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 3.01, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Opal
| Period | Opal | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.0 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.3 | 38.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 49.1 | 38.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 34.0 | 38.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | −2.0 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Opal is young: half of its residents are under 34.0, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young families with children.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Opal
| Period | Opal | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.8% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 2.8% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.0% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Opal: 3.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Opal
Renters in Opal
| Period | Opal | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.0% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.8% | 32.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.8% | 32.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 49.8% | 31.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +26.8 pts | +0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Opal than nationally: 49.8% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 89.6% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Opal
| Period | Opal | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.7% | 11.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.0% | 10.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 34.7% | 11.6% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.1% | 10.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −20.6 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Opal: 15.1% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Opal
| Period | Opal | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1975 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1959 | 1977 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1959 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | −13 | +9 | +6 |
Opal is a place of older homes: half were built before 1959, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Opal
| Period | Opal | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $924 | $631 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $842 | $692 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $972 | $798 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $950 | $1,000 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$26 | +$369 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Opal costs $950 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 18.2% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Opal
Bachelor's degrees in Opal
| Period | Opal | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.6% | 26.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.0% | 27.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.7% | 29.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.9% | 32.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +14.3 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Opal than nationally: 26.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Opal
| Period | Opal | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.9% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.4% | 91.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 100.0% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.3% | 93.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Opal: 96.3% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Opal
| Period | Opal | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 4.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.9% | 4.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.1% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.8% | 3.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Opal has been low: just 2.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. That is in line with the rest of South Dakota. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Opal compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opal | 2.83 | 34.0 | 3.0% | 49.8% | 15.1% | 1959 | $950 | 26.9% | 96.3% | 2.8% |
| Hereford | 2.83 | 33.9 | 3.1% | 50.4% | 15.1% | 1959 | $956 | 26.8% | 96.2% | 2.7% |
| Enning | 2.78 | 35.9 | 2.8% | 44.7% | 15.9% | 1961 | $907 | 28.1% | 96.2% | 2.7% |
| Redowl | 2.83 | 34.0 | 3.0% | 49.8% | 15.1% | 1959 | $950 | 26.9% | 96.3% | 2.8% |
| Volunteer | 2.80 | 34.8 | 3.1% | 46.6% | 15.3% | 1960 | $949 | 26.5% | 96.0% | 2.6% |
| Union Center | 2.83 | 34.0 | 3.0% | 49.8% | 15.1% | 1959 | $950 | 26.9% | 96.3% | 2.8% |
| Fairpoint | 2.79 | 35.1 | 5.3% | 39.4% | 15.2% | 1964 | $985 | 26.9% | 96.7% | 2.6% |
| White Owl | 2.37 | 53.6 | 1.3% | 23.1% | 22.4% | 1978 | $517 | 38.9% | 95.7% | 1.8% |
| Mud Butte | 2.69 | 36.7 | 3.7% | 35.1% | 16.6% | 1963 | $945 | 25.7% | 95.7% | 2.1% |
| Vale | 2.70 | 45.8 | 7.1% | 15.6% | 17.2% | 1977 | $977 | 20.3% | 93.8% | 1.2% |
| Elm Springs | 2.37 | 53.6 | 1.3% | 23.1% | 22.4% | 1978 | $517 | 38.9% | 95.7% | 1.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Bliss, KY · Bellview, NM · Benoit, WI · Bentley, IL · Wharton, PA · Bethany, KY · Bethel, TN · Bill, WY · Bingham, NM · Birds Corner, MO
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Opal. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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