Horse Creek, South Dakota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Horse Creek, South Dakota had a total population of 162, the 252nd largest community in South Dakota. The poverty rate is 96.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (96.9%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Only 0.0% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Unemployment rate of 40.0% is notably above the national average.
Horse Creek Quick Facts
How Horse 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 | 205 | 162 | -21.0% |
How Horse 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+)
Horse Creek Rankings in South Dakota
Explore South Dakota Rankings
Other Cities in Mellette County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White River | 606 | $82,692 | 35.7% | $75,000 |
| Norris | 140 | N/A | 81.2% | N/A |
| Corn Creek | 113 | $2,499 | 92.9% | N/A |
| Wood | 40 | $43,077 | 32.5% | $9,999 |
Cities Similar to Horse Creek
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badger | 162 | $65,000 | $70,000 | 8.6% | 3.7% |
| Whitehorse | 162 | $59,250 | N/A | 0.0% | 32.1% |
| Kenel | 163 | $68,750 | $102,500 | 13.5% | 31.3% |
| Columbia | 161 | $58,295 | $96,500 | 32.2% | 4.3% |
| Pierpont | 161 | $92,500 | $75,000 | 21.9% | 13.8% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 162, Horse 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
Horse Creek is a small community located in South Dakota, within Mellette County. The total population is 162. It ranks as the 252nd most populous out of 439 Census-designated places in South Dakota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Horse Creek is 15.7 years. This is 59% lower than the state median of 38.0 years. With 56.2% of the population under 18, Horse Creek has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.
Economy, Income & Housing
The poverty rate stands at 96.9%. This is 712% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 40.0%. This is 1265% higher than the state rate of 2.9%. Every occupied housing unit the survey reached in Horse Creek was renter-occupied. At this sample size that indicates no owner-occupied homes were captured rather than that none exist.
Race & Ethnicity
Horse Creek is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population.
Education
0.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 56.1%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Horse 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 Horse Creek, South Dakota?
Horse Creek, South Dakota has a population of 162 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Horse Creek, SD?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median household income estimate for Horse Creek — the community is too small for the ACS sample. The national median is $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Horse Creek, SD?
The poverty rate in Horse Creek is 96.9%. This means approximately 157 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Horse Creek, South Dakota?
Horse Creek's population is 0.0% White, 0.0% Black, 4.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Horse Creek, SD?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median home value estimate for Horse Creek — there are too few owner-occupied homes in the ACS sample. The national median is $332,700.
How educated is Horse Creek, South Dakota?
0.0% of adults (25+) in Horse Creek hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.