South Dakota Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze population trends, housing costs, and the local economy by exploring Map AI.
State Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population
| Metric | South Dakota | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 912,694 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 11.8 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.79% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 35.5 | 37.1 |
| Households | 358,551 | 128,459,983 |
Population in South Dakota grew by 12.9% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 899,189 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
South Dakota has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | South Dakota | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $72,558 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.77% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.0% | 5.2% |
The median household income in South Dakota is about 7% lower than in US.
Housing
| Metric | South Dakota | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $98,153 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $912 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 68.6% | 65.1% |
The median home price in South Dakota is about 9.0 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $912 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in South Dakota spend about 31 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 128 hours, about 5.3 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | South Dakota | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 15.3 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 30.7 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 128 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $3,961 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,777 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 353 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
South Dakota:
Jones County (6.4 min), Jackson County (7.5 min), Bennett County (7.7 min).
Slowest:
McCook County (26.4 min), Ziebach County (25.1 min), Turner County (25.1 min).
The average commute time in South Dakota is 15 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in US.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
South Dakota has a education index of C, which means it is somewhat educated.
| Metric | South Dakota | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.0% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.42 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
South Dakota:
Clay County (0.4), Lincoln County (0.3), Stanley County (0.3).
Lowest:
Buffalo County (0.1), Mellette County (0.2), Oglala Lakota County (0.2).
Health
South Dakota has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | South Dakota | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 79.9 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 13.8% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 19.9% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
South Dakota:
Brookings County (0.8), Lincoln County (0.8), Clay County (0.8).
Lowest:
Todd County (0.7), Buffalo County (0.7), Mellette County (0.7).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about South Dakota.
What is the population of South Dakota?
The population of South Dakota is 912,694, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of South Dakota?
The population density of South Dakota is 11.8 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in South Dakota?
The median household income in South Dakota is $72,558, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in South Dakota?
The median home price in South Dakota is $98,153, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in South Dakota?
The unemployment rate in South Dakota is 3.0%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.