Monroe, South Dakota Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 233, Monroe'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

Monroe is a small community located in South Dakota, within Turner County. The total population is 233. It ranks as the 221st most populous out of 439 Census-designated places in South Dakota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Monroe is 33.8 years. This is 11% lower than the state median of 38.0 years. Only 12.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Monroe is $51,250. This is 32% lower than the state median of $75,081. It is also 37% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 24.7%. This is 107% 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 5.4%. This is 86% higher than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $48,900. Housing costs are 81% lower than the state median of $257,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.0x, Monroe is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Monroe is White (non-Hispanic), making up 85.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (9.4% vs 4.8%).

Education

6.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 79% 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 90.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Monroe, 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.