Spearfish, South Dakota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Spearfish, South Dakota had a total population of 12,930, the 10th largest city in South Dakota, with a median household income of $65,688, which is 13% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 15.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- 41.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in South Dakota.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 2.2%.
Spearfish Quick Facts
How Spearfish 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 | 12,551 | 12,930 | +3.0% |
| Median household income | $59,731 | $65,688 | +10.0% |
| Median home value | $309,200 | $346,200 | +12.0% |
How Spearfish 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+)
Spearfish Rankings in South Dakota
Explore South Dakota Rankings
Other Cities in Lawrence County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | 3,006 | $73,047 | 7.5% | $189,400 |
| North Spearfish | 1,858 | $76,809 | 23.2% | $356,200 |
| Deadwood | 1,209 | $40,179 | 6.7% | $226,500 |
| Whitewood | 912 | $77,500 | 2.0% | $243,300 |
| Boulder Canyon | 841 | $74,281 | 1.1% | $597,800 |
| Mountain Plains | 350 | $248,558 | 0.0% | $613,200 |
| Crook City | 279 | $139,926 | 0.0% | $463,300 |
| Central City | 140 | $47,000 | 3.6% | $208,300 |
| St. Onge | 40 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Spearfish
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box Elder | 12,902 | $73,008 | $302,100 | 28.1% | 7.5% |
| Huron | 14,385 | $61,452 | $159,000 | 27.0% | 16.1% |
| Pierre | 13,948 | $77,672 | $230,700 | 39.0% | 10.1% |
| Yankton | 15,540 | $67,804 | $222,700 | 33.2% | 14.1% |
| Vermillion | 11,878 | $50,456 | $219,000 | 50.5% | 24.4% |
Population Overview
Spearfish is a small city located in South Dakota, within Lawrence County. The total population is 12,930. It ranks as the 10th most populous out of 439 Census-designated places in South Dakota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Spearfish is 40.0 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 38.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Spearfish is $65,688. This is 13% lower than the state median of $75,081. It is also 19% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.2%. This is 28% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 2.2%. This is 26% lower than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $346,200. Housing costs are 34% higher than the state median of $257,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.3x. 49.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 28% lower than the state average of 68.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Spearfish has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.9%. The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 2.1%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.
Education
41.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Spearfish in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 31% higher 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 95.5%. Notably, 16.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Spearfish, 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.
Free data download: Get all South Dakota city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Spearfish, South Dakota?
Spearfish, South Dakota has a population of 12,930 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Spearfish, SD?
The median household income in Spearfish is $65,688, which is 19% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Spearfish, SD?
The poverty rate in Spearfish is 15.2%. This means approximately 1,859 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Spearfish, South Dakota?
Spearfish's population is 87.3% White, 0.2% Black, 3.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.6% Asian.
What is the median home value in Spearfish, SD?
The median home value in Spearfish is $346,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.3x.
How educated is Spearfish, South Dakota?
41.8% of adults (25+) in Spearfish hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 16.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.