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Deadwood, South Dakota Demographics & Population 2026

Lowest IncomeAmong the lowest median incomes in South Dakota
Oldest CityAmong the oldest communities in South Dakota with a median age of 57.3 years

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Deadwood, South Dakota had a total population of 1,209, the 66th largest city in South Dakota, with a median household income of $40,179, which is 46% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 6.7%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Deadwood Quick Facts

Population 1,209
Median Household Income $40,179
Median Home Value $226,500
Poverty Rate 6.7%
Unemployment Rate 5.4%
Median Age 57.3 years
Homeownership Rate 55.9%
Affordability Ratio 5.6x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 21.1%
High School Graduation Rate 95.6%
Diversity Index 18/100
Population 1,209 66th of 439
Median Income $40,179 bottom 20%
Poverty Rate 6.7% 47% lower than national
Median Home Value $226,500 top 20%

How Deadwood Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population1,3191,209-8.3%
Median household income$52,679$40,179-23.7%
Median home value$227,000$226,500-0.2%

How Deadwood Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 29.9%
$25K-$50K 26.3%
$50K-$100K 28.6%
$100K+ 15.3%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
4.1%
$10K-$15K
1.6%
$15K-$20K
4.7%
$20K-$25K
19.5%
$25K-$30K
6.9%
$30K-$35K
7.9%
$35K-$40K
5.1%
$40K-$45K
3.7%
$45K-$50K
2.6%
$50K-$60K
4.1%
$60K-$75K
9.4%
$75K-$100K
15.1%
$100K-$125K
6.5%
$125K-$150K
1.6%
$150K-$200K
1.6%
$200K+
5.6%

Employment

5.4% Unemployment Rate State: 2.9%|National: 5.2%
61.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 55.9%
Renter 44.1%
Affordability Index Expensive
5.6x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $702/mo 21.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

18out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 35 | National average: 61

Education

Deadwood Rankings in South Dakota

#66 Population of 439
#310 Median Income of 345
#194 Education of 438
#63 Home Value of 315

Other Cities in Lawrence County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Spearfish 12,930 $65,688 15.2% $346,200
Lead 3,006 $73,047 7.5% $189,400
North Spearfish 1,858 $76,809 23.2% $356,200
Whitewood 912 $77,500 2.0% $243,300
Boulder Canyon 841 $74,281 1.1% $597,800
Mountain Plains 350 $248,558 0.0% $613,200
Crook City 279 $139,926 0.0% $463,300
Central City 140 $47,000 3.6% $208,300
St. Onge 40 N/A 0.0% N/A

Cities Similar to Deadwood

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Lemmon1,208$50,147$86,20022.9%22.0%
Fort Thompson1,147$47,159$150,0007.2%41.6%
Tyndall1,183$50,481$101,50027.9%8.5%
Garretson1,176$59,741$203,80028.2%5.3%
Mission1,539N/A$65,90014.9%44.0%

Population Overview

Deadwood is a small community located in South Dakota, within Lawrence County. The total population is 1,209. It ranks as the 66th most populous out of 439 Census-designated places in South Dakota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Deadwood is 57.3 years. This is 51% higher than the state median of 38.0 years. Only 7.0% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Deadwood is $40,179. This is 46% lower than the state median of $75,081. It is also 50% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 6.7%. This is 44% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 84% higher than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $226,500. Housing costs are 12% lower than the state median of $257,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.6x. 55.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% lower than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Deadwood has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.5%. The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.

Education

21.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 34% 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 95.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Deadwood, 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 Deadwood, South Dakota?

Deadwood, South Dakota has a population of 1,209 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Deadwood, SD?

The median household income in Deadwood is $40,179, which is 50% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Deadwood, SD?

The poverty rate in Deadwood is 6.7%. This means approximately 78 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Deadwood, South Dakota?

Deadwood's population is 90.3% White, 0.7% Black, 4.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.7% Asian.

What is the median home value in Deadwood, SD?

The median home value in Deadwood is $226,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.6x.

How educated is Deadwood, South Dakota?

21.1% of adults (25+) in Deadwood hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 8.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.