North Eagle Butte, South Dakota Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

North Eagle Butte is a small community located in South Dakota, within Dewey County. The total population is 1,481. It ranks as the 55th most populous out of 439 Census-designated places in South Dakota.

Age Demographics

The median age in North Eagle Butte is 23.7 years. This is 38% lower than the state median of 38.0 years. With 37.3% of the population under 18, North Eagle Butte has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in North Eagle Butte is $34,358. This is 54% lower than the state median of $75,081. It is also 57% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 52.6%. This is 341% 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 27.5%. This is 838% higher than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $33,100. Housing costs are 87% lower than the state median of $257,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.0x, North Eagle Butte is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 41.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 40% lower than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

North Eagle Butte is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 0.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 79.8%. The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 2.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 4.8%.

Education

10.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 69% 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 74.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for North Eagle Butte, 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.