Lakota, North Dakota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Lakota, North Dakota had a total population of 784, the 71st largest city in North Dakota, with a median household income of $66,090, which is 14% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 14.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 1.7%.
Lakota Quick Facts
How Lakota Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 629 | 784 | +24.6% |
| Median household income | $63,672 | $66,090 | +3.8% |
| Median home value | $145,700 | $167,800 | +15.2% |
How Lakota Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 32 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Lakota Rankings in North Dakota
Explore North Dakota Rankings
Other Cities in Nelson County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McVille | 365 | $68,750 | 10.5% | $97,500 |
| Michigan City | 277 | $75,000 | 4.7% | $120,000 |
| Aneta | 157 | $41,979 | 3.7% | $72,500 |
| Tolna | 124 | $39,821 | 13.7% | $83,000 |
| Petersburg | 120 | $72,083 | 2.5% | $112,500 |
| Pekin | 62 | $36,750 | 8.2% | $56,000 |
| Dahlen | 20 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Lakota
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Salem | 780 | $69,519 | $187,000 | 20.1% | 6.9% |
| Steele | 757 | $65,329 | $161,000 | 30.6% | 9.1% |
| Napoleon | 765 | $68,750 | $87,700 | 23.1% | 16.0% |
| Drayton | 763 | $70,250 | $107,500 | 23.7% | 5.6% |
| Richardton | 768 | $60,179 | $188,500 | 22.2% | 9.3% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 784, Lakota's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Lakota is a small community located in North Dakota, within Nelson County. The total population is 784. It ranks as the 71st most populous out of 402 Census-designated places in North Dakota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Lakota is 38.8 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 35.9 years. With 29.1% of the population under 18, Lakota has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Lakota is $66,090. This is 14% lower than the state median of $76,657. It is also 18% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.6%. This is 35% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.8%. The unemployment rate is 1.7%. This is 38% lower than the state rate of 2.8%. The median home value is $167,800. Housing costs are 33% lower than the state median of $249,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Lakota is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 65.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 62.8%.
Race & Ethnicity
Lakota has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.4%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.
Education
28.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 12% lower than the state rate of 32.7%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Lakota, North Dakota is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against North Dakota state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 402 Census-designated places in North Dakota. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all North Dakota city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Lakota, North Dakota?
Lakota, North Dakota has a population of 784 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Lakota, ND?
The median household income in Lakota is $66,090, which is 18% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Lakota, ND?
The poverty rate in Lakota is 14.6%. This means approximately 107 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Lakota, North Dakota?
Lakota's population is 87.1% White, 1.8% Black, 5.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.6% Asian.
What is the median home value in Lakota, ND?
The median home value in Lakota is $167,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.5x.
How educated is Lakota, North Dakota?
28.7% of adults (25+) in Lakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.