Arlington, South Dakota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Arlington, South Dakota had a total population of 920, the 89th largest city in South Dakota, with a median household income of $71,296, which is 5% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 19.1%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 1.4%.
Arlington Quick Facts
How Arlington 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 | 833 | 920 | +10.4% |
| Median household income | $67,083 | $71,296 | +6.3% |
| Median home value | $122,400 | $144,300 | +17.9% |
How Arlington 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: 35 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Arlington Rankings in South Dakota
Explore South Dakota Rankings
Other Cities in Brookings County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookings | 23,948 | $63,493 | 16.9% | $265,500 |
| Volga | 2,408 | $78,828 | 6.1% | $240,000 |
| Aurora | 1,444 | $95,952 | 2.7% | $234,600 |
| Elkton | 977 | $69,688 | 26.7% | $185,100 |
| White | 484 | $67,639 | 4.1% | $128,800 |
| Lake Poinsett | 348 | $96,875 | 5.2% | $493,200 |
| Bruce | 290 | $55,000 | 6.2% | $114,100 |
| Sinai | 215 | $56,875 | 1.9% | $89,300 |
| Bushnell | 66 | N/A | 7.6% | $90,000 |
Cities Similar to Arlington
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitewood | 912 | $77,500 | $243,300 | 23.8% | 2.0% |
| De Smet | 943 | $67,321 | $165,200 | 22.1% | 4.6% |
| Colman | 948 | $76,146 | $235,800 | 38.0% | 11.5% |
| Lake Norden | 889 | $75,688 | $192,600 | 14.4% | 6.3% |
| Elkton | 977 | $69,688 | $185,100 | 21.6% | 26.7% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 920, Arlington'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
Arlington is a small community located in South Dakota, within Brookings County. The total population is 920. It ranks as the 89th most populous out of 439 Census-designated places in South Dakota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Arlington is 40.1 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 38.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Arlington is $71,296. This is 5% lower than the state median of $75,081. It is also 12% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 19.1%. This is 61% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 1.4%. This is 52% lower than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $144,300. Housing costs are 44% lower than the state median of $257,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Arlington is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 68.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Arlington is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (9.6% vs 4.8%).
Education
21.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 34% lower than the state rate of 31.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Arlington, South 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 South Dakota state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 439 Census-designated places in South 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 South Dakota city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Arlington, South Dakota?
Arlington, South Dakota has a population of 920 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Arlington, SD?
The median household income in Arlington is $71,296, which is 12% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Arlington, SD?
The poverty rate in Arlington is 19.1%. This means approximately 167 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Arlington, South Dakota?
Arlington's population is 84.6% White, 0.0% Black, 9.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 2.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Arlington, SD?
The median home value in Arlington is $144,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.0x.
How educated is Arlington, South Dakota?
21.1% of adults (25+) in Arlington hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 6.6% hold a graduate or professional degree.