Bristol, South Dakota Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 275, Bristol'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

Bristol is a small community located in South Dakota, within Day County. The total population is 275. It ranks as the 209th most populous out of 439 Census-designated places in South Dakota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bristol is 57.3 years. This is 51% higher than the state median of 38.0 years. Only 10.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 11.3% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bristol is $56,250. This is 25% lower than the state median of $75,081. It is also 30% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.3%. This is 30% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 8.5%. This is 190% higher than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $76,400. Housing costs are 70% lower than the state median of $257,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x, Bristol is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 71.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Bristol has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 4.8%.

Education

8.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 74% 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 92.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Bristol, 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.