Chelsea, South Dakota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Chelsea, South Dakota had a total population of 61, the 363rd largest town in South Dakota. The poverty rate is 0.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Chelsea Quick Facts
How Chelsea 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 | 57 | 61 | +7.0% |
How Chelsea 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+)
Chelsea Rankings in South Dakota
Explore South Dakota Rankings
Other Cities in Faulk County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkton | 670 | $63,750 | 13.4% | $99,600 |
| Cresbard | 122 | $41,875 | 4.1% | N/A |
| Orient | 91 | $40,556 | 20.9% | $49,300 |
| Brentwood Colony | 57 | N/A | 100.0% | N/A |
| Evergreen Colony | 55 | N/A | 100.0% | N/A |
| Rockham | 37 | $137,083 | 0.0% | $88,300 |
| Onaka | 25 | N/A | 100.0% | N/A |
| Seneca | 22 | N/A | 27.3% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Chelsea
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairburn | 61 | $41,250 | $85,000 | 7.7% | 0.0% |
| Turton | 61 | $48,750 | $75,000 | 59.1% | 9.8% |
| Stratford | 62 | $58,125 | $69,300 | 18.5% | 0.0% |
| Golden View Colony | 60 | N/A | N/A | 70.0% | 70.0% |
| Brant Lake | 63 | $104,318 | $455,000 | 67.7% | 0.0% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 61, Chelsea'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
Chelsea is a small community located in South Dakota, within Faulk County. The total population is 61. It ranks as the 363rd most populous out of 439 Census-designated places in South Dakota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Chelsea is 52.1 years. This is 37% higher than the state median of 38.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Chelsea. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. The survey records no unemployed residents in Chelsea, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. 90.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 33% higher than the state average of 68.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Every resident counted in Chelsea was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.
Education
22.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 28% 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 97.1%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Chelsea, 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 Chelsea, South Dakota?
Chelsea, South Dakota has a population of 61 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Chelsea, SD?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median household income estimate for Chelsea — the community is too small for the ACS sample. The national median is $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Chelsea, SD?
The ACS sample for Chelsea recorded no residents below the federal poverty line. Because the community is small, this indicates that the survey did not capture poverty here rather than that no poverty exists — the estimate carries a wide margin of error.
What is the racial makeup of Chelsea, South Dakota?
Chelsea's population is 100.0% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Chelsea, SD?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median home value estimate for Chelsea — there are too few owner-occupied homes in the ACS sample. The national median is $332,700.
How educated is Chelsea, South Dakota?
22.9% of adults (25+) in Chelsea hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.