Cow Creek, South Dakota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Cow Creek, South Dakota had a total population of 69, the 350th largest community in South Dakota, with a median household income of $112,778, which is 50% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 0.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 50% above the state average — one of the wealthiest communities in South Dakota.
Cow Creek Quick Facts
How Cow Creek 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 | 64 | 69 | +7.8% |
How Cow Creek 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+)
Cow Creek Rankings in South Dakota
Explore South Dakota Rankings
Other Cities in Sully County
Cities Similar to Cow Creek
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset Colony | 68 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| Bath Corner | 72 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Shamrock Colony | 72 | N/A | N/A | 100.0% | 59.6% |
| Bushnell | 66 | N/A | $90,000 | 33.3% | 7.6% |
| Cottonwood | 66 | N/A | N/A | 50.0% | 1.5% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 69, Cow Creek'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
Cow Creek is a small community located in South Dakota, within Sully County. The total population is 69. It ranks as the 350th most populous out of 439 Census-designated places in South Dakota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Cow Creek is 46.4 years. This is 22% higher than the state median of 38.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Cow Creek is $112,778. This is 50% higher than the state median of $75,081. It is also 40% higher than the national median of $80,734. The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Cow Creek. 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 Cow Creek, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $427,300. Housing costs are 66% higher than the state median of $257,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 46% higher than the state average of 68.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Cow Creek is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.1% of the population.
Education
35.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 10% higher than the state rate of 31.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample. Notably, 35.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Cow Creek, 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 Cow Creek, South Dakota?
Cow Creek, South Dakota has a population of 69 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Cow Creek, SD?
The median household income in Cow Creek is $112,778, which is 40% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Cow Creek, SD?
The ACS sample for Cow Creek 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 Cow Creek, South Dakota?
Cow Creek's population is 84.1% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Cow Creek, SD?
The median home value in Cow Creek is $427,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x.
How educated is Cow Creek, South Dakota?
35.1% of adults (25+) in Cow Creek hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 35.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.