Porcupine, South Dakota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Porcupine, South Dakota had a total population of 424, the 167th largest community in South Dakota. The poverty rate is 79.7%.
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 (79.7%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
Porcupine Quick Facts
How Porcupine 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 | 549 | 424 | -22.8% |
How Porcupine 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+)
Porcupine Rankings in South Dakota
Explore South Dakota Rankings
Other Cities in Oglala Lakota County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pine Ridge | 2,246 | $53,060 | 14.5% | N/A |
| Oglala | 1,071 | $21,330 | 68.8% | N/A |
| Manderson-White Horse Creek | 833 | N/A | 100.0% | N/A |
| Kyle | 667 | $36,250 | 35.0% | $9,999 |
| Wounded Knee | 524 | $2,499 | 100.0% | N/A |
| Batesland | 89 | N/A | 34.8% | $51,900 |
Cities Similar to Porcupine
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chancellor | 421 | $66,563 | $139,800 | 10.9% | 8.0% |
| Rosholt | 428 | $64,861 | $116,400 | 16.9% | 13.0% |
| Willow Lake | 433 | $72,875 | $149,000 | 18.7% | 1.1% |
| Mount Vernon | 442 | $60,357 | $164,400 | 17.0% | 5.0% |
| Bison | 406 | $71,607 | $82,000 | 22.6% | 4.9% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 424, Porcupine'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
Porcupine is a small community located in South Dakota, within Oglala Lakota County. The total population is 424. It ranks as the 167th most populous out of 439 Census-designated places in South Dakota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Porcupine is 29.1 years. This is 23% lower than the state median of 38.0 years. With 46.2% of the population under 18, Porcupine has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.
Economy, Income & Housing
The poverty rate stands at 79.7%. This is 568% 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 Porcupine, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. 98.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 44% higher than the state average of 68.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Porcupine is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 0.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 79.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (13.0% vs 4.8%).
Education
13.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 59% 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 74.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Porcupine, 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 Porcupine, South Dakota?
Porcupine, South Dakota has a population of 424 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Porcupine, SD?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median household income estimate for Porcupine — the community is too small for the ACS sample. The national median is $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Porcupine, SD?
The poverty rate in Porcupine is 79.7%. This means approximately 326 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Porcupine, South Dakota?
Porcupine's population is 0.7% White, 0.0% Black, 13.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Porcupine, SD?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median home value estimate for Porcupine — there are too few owner-occupied homes in the ACS sample. The national median is $332,700.
How educated is Porcupine, South Dakota?
13.2% of adults (25+) in Porcupine hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.