Box Elder, South Dakota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Box Elder, South Dakota had a total population of 12,902, the 11th largest city in South Dakota, with a median household income of $73,008, which is 3% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 7.5%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Box Elder Quick Facts
How Box Elder 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 | 12,457 | 12,902 | +3.6% |
| Median household income | $73,698 | $73,008 | -0.9% |
| Median home value | $271,800 | $302,100 | +11.1% |
How Box Elder 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
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 35 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Box Elder Rankings in South Dakota
Explore South Dakota Rankings
Other Cities in Pennington County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | 77,946 | $70,870 | 12.5% | $299,400 |
| Rapid Valley | 6,975 | $83,208 | 4.5% | $255,500 |
| Colonial Pine Hills | 2,609 | $98,696 | 0.2% | $406,500 |
| Green Valley | 1,642 | $81,582 | 1.0% | $280,300 |
| Ashland Heights | 1,105 | $57,353 | 30.7% | $219,600 |
| Hill City | 834 | $95,385 | 2.6% | $286,200 |
| Johnson Siding | 704 | $102,716 | 10.2% | $471,700 |
| Wall | 622 | $58,984 | 8.8% | $164,800 |
| New Underwood | 509 | $56,250 | 25.8% | $193,800 |
| Keystone | 336 | $64,702 | 6.9% | $263,900 |
Cities Similar to Box Elder
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spearfish | 12,930 | $65,688 | $346,200 | 41.8% | 15.2% |
| Pierre | 13,948 | $77,672 | $230,700 | 39.0% | 10.1% |
| Huron | 14,385 | $61,452 | $159,000 | 27.0% | 16.1% |
| Yankton | 15,540 | $67,804 | $222,700 | 33.2% | 14.1% |
| Vermillion | 11,878 | $50,456 | $219,000 | 50.5% | 24.4% |
Population Overview
Box Elder is a small city located in South Dakota, within Pennington County. The total population is 12,902. It ranks as the 11th most populous out of 439 Census-designated places in South Dakota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Box Elder is 28.8 years. This is 24% lower than the state median of 38.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Box Elder is $73,008. This is 3% lower than the state median of $75,081. It is also 10% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.5%. This is 37% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 4.9%. This is 68% higher than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $302,100. Housing costs are 17% higher than the state median of $257,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x. 48.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 30% lower than the state average of 68.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Box Elder is White (non-Hispanic), making up 71.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (8.2% vs 4.8%).
Education
28.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 12% 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 92.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Box Elder, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Box Elder, South Dakota?
Box Elder, South Dakota has a population of 12,902 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Box Elder, SD?
The median household income in Box Elder is $73,008, which is 10% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Box Elder, SD?
The poverty rate in Box Elder is 7.5%. This means approximately 943 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Box Elder, South Dakota?
Box Elder's population is 71.1% White, 2.8% Black, 8.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.1% Asian.
What is the median home value in Box Elder, SD?
The median home value in Box Elder is $302,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x.
How educated is Box Elder, South Dakota?
28.1% of adults (25+) in Box Elder hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 8.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.