Orient, South Dakota Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 91, Orient'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

Orient is a small community located in South Dakota, within Faulk County. The total population is 91. It ranks as the 308th most populous out of 439 Census-designated places in South Dakota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Orient is 34.5 years. This is 9% lower than the state median of 38.0 years. 11.0% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Orient is $40,556. This is 46% lower than the state median of $75,081. It is also 50% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.9%. This is 75% 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 survey records no unemployed residents in Orient, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $49,300. Housing costs are 81% lower than the state median of $257,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.2x, Orient is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 68.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Orient was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

Education

2.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 91% 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 88.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Orient, 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.