Ashton, South Dakota Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 204, Ashton'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

Ashton is a small community located in South Dakota, within Spink County. The total population is 204. It ranks as the 234th most populous out of 439 Census-designated places in South Dakota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ashton is 31.5 years. This is 17% lower than the state median of 38.0 years. With 38.2% of the population under 18, Ashton has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ashton is $54,712. This is 27% lower than the state median of $75,081. It is also 32% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.7%. This is 23% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Ashton, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $60,800. Housing costs are 76% lower than the state median of $257,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.1x, Ashton is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 86.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% higher than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Ashton has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 12.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (12.3% vs 4.8%).

Education

19.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% 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 89.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Ashton, 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.