Ramona, South Dakota Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 538, Ramona'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

Ramona is a small community located in South Dakota, within Lake County. The total population is 538. It ranks as the 146th most populous out of 439 Census-designated places in South Dakota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ramona is 30.9 years. This is 19% lower than the state median of 38.0 years. With 33.1% of the population under 18, Ramona has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ramona is $78,750. This is 5% higher than the state median of $75,081. It is also 2% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.2%. This is 120% 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 0.4%. This is 88% lower than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $85,800. Housing costs are 67% lower than the state median of $257,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.1x, Ramona is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Ramona is Hispanic or Latino, making up 53.0% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 33.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (33.1%) is well below the state average of 79.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (53.0% vs 4.8%).

Education

13.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 57% 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 71.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Ramona, 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.