Mitchell, South Dakota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Mitchell, South Dakota had a total population of 15,649, the 6th largest city in South Dakota, with a median household income of $58,620, which is 22% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 12.5%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 1.0%.
Mitchell Quick Facts
How Mitchell 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 | 15,637 | 15,649 | +0.1% |
| Median household income | $56,374 | $58,620 | +4.0% |
| Median home value | $182,000 | $192,200 | +5.6% |
How Mitchell 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+)
Mitchell Rankings in South Dakota
Explore South Dakota Rankings
Other Cities in Davison County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon | 442 | $60,357 | 5.0% | $164,400 |
| Ethan | 346 | $60,417 | 12.1% | $152,300 |
| Loomis | 13 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Mitchell
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yankton | 15,540 | $67,804 | $222,700 | 33.2% | 14.1% |
| Huron | 14,385 | $61,452 | $159,000 | 27.0% | 16.1% |
| Spearfish | 12,930 | $65,688 | $346,200 | 41.8% | 15.2% |
| Pierre | 13,948 | $77,672 | $230,700 | 39.0% | 10.1% |
| Box Elder | 12,902 | $73,008 | $302,100 | 28.1% | 7.5% |
Population Overview
Mitchell is a small city located in South Dakota, within Davison County. The total population is 15,649. It ranks as the 6th most populous out of 439 Census-designated places in South Dakota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Mitchell is 39.6 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 38.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Mitchell is $58,620. This is 22% lower than the state median of $75,081. It is also 27% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.5%. This is 5% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 1.0%. This is 65% lower than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $192,200. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $257,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 56.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% lower than the state average of 68.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Mitchell has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.6%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 2.1%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.
Education
23.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 26% 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 92.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Mitchell, 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 Mitchell, South Dakota?
Mitchell, South Dakota has a population of 15,649 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Mitchell, SD?
The median household income in Mitchell is $58,620, which is 27% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Mitchell, SD?
The poverty rate in Mitchell is 12.5%. This means approximately 1,853 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Mitchell, South Dakota?
Mitchell's population is 87.6% White, 0.5% Black, 5.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.6% Asian.
What is the median home value in Mitchell, SD?
The median home value in Mitchell is $192,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x.
How educated is Mitchell, South Dakota?
23.6% of adults (25+) in Mitchell hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 6.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.