Population 907,428 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in South Dakota
Household size in South Dakota
| Period | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.48 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in South Dakota run small, averaging 2.48 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in southwestern South Dakota.
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 South Dakota
| Period | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.0 | +2.3 |
At 38.9, the median age in South Dakota is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has climbed from 37.9 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. South Dakota is younger than the great majority of states.
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 South Dakota
| Period | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in South Dakota (10.7%), close to the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national share fell.
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 South Dakota
Renters in South Dakota
| Period | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 31.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in South Dakota own their homes; 31.4% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. More than four in ten owners (45.6%) have paid off their mortgages, 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 South Dakota
| Period | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.6% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in South Dakota is close to the national rate: 10.3% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.1 points, in line with the national trend.
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 South Dakota
| Period | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +6 |
The typical home in South Dakota was built around 1981, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). The median year built has moved up from 1972 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 South Dakota
| Period | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $631 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $692 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $798 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,000 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$369 | +$606 |
A typical rental in South Dakota costs $1,000 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $369 a month from 2006–10, a 58% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 26.2% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Only one other state has lower rents.
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 South Dakota
Bachelor's degrees in South Dakota
| Period | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 27.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in South Dakota (32.5%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 5.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in southeastern South Dakota and least in southwestern South Dakota.
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 South Dakota
| Period | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in South Dakota is above the national rate: 93.1% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.2 points, mirroring the country. South Dakota has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five states.
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 South Dakota
| Period | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in South Dakota has been low: just 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Of the 50 states and D.C., only two have lower unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 1.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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).
South Dakota compared with nearby states
| State | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | 2.48 | 38.9 | 10.7% | 31.4% | 10.3% | 1981 | $1,000 | 32.5% | 93.1% | 3.1% |
| Nebraska | 2.51 | 38.3 | 10.4% | 33.5% | 7.8% | 1975 | $1,159 | 34.9% | 91.8% | 3.1% |
| North Dakota | 2.38 | 37.4 | 8.8% | 37.1% | 12.0% | 1985 | $1,031 | 33.9% | 94.1% | 2.8% |
| Minnesota | 2.52 | 40.0 | 9.6% | 27.8% | 8.3% | 1978 | $1,404 | 39.6% | 93.7% | 4.1% |
| Iowa | 2.43 | 39.8 | 10.0% | 28.3% | 8.8% | 1971 | $1,020 | 32.3% | 93.0% | 3.7% |
| Kansas | 2.53 | 38.8 | 10.5% | 32.8% | 9.7% | 1976 | $1,159 | 35.6% | 91.7% | 4.0% |
| Wyoming | 2.39 | 40.2 | 9.2% | 28.2% | 12.1% | 1981 | $1,091 | 30.6% | 94.1% | 3.8% |
| Wisconsin | 2.40 | 41.4 | 9.8% | 32.2% | 9.2% | 1974 | $1,139 | 33.6% | 93.3% | 3.3% |
| Colorado | 2.54 | 39.1 | 9.3% | 33.8% | 7.3% | 1988 | $1,963 | 45.9% | 92.8% | 4.6% |
| Missouri | 2.49 | 40.1 | 11.0% | 31.9% | 10.5% | 1978 | $1,122 | 32.6% | 91.8% | 4.1% |
| Illinois | 2.58 | 40.2 | 11.3% | 32.9% | 8.1% | 1970 | $1,428 | 37.7% | 90.3% | 6.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
States with similar populations: California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Arkansas · Puerto Rico · New Jersey
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 South Dakota. 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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