Estelline, South Dakota Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 831, Estelline'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

Estelline is a small community located in South Dakota, within Hamlin County. The total population is 831. It ranks as the 100th most populous out of 439 Census-designated places in South Dakota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Estelline is 34.1 years. This is 10% lower than the state median of 38.0 years. With 31.1% of the population under 18, Estelline has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Estelline is $78,438. This is 4% higher than the state median of $75,081. It is also 3% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.6%. This is 36% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 1.1%. This is 61% lower than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $142,200. Housing costs are 45% lower than the state median of $257,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Estelline is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 82.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Estelline is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 12.9%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 2.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (12.9% vs 4.8%). The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.

Education

20.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 35% 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 86.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Estelline, 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.