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Sturgis, South Dakota Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Sturgis, South Dakota had a total population of 7,086, the 15th largest city in South Dakota, with a median household income of $54,404, which is 28% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 9.2%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Sturgis Quick Facts

Population 7,086
Median Household Income $54,404
Median Home Value $271,200
Poverty Rate 9.2%
Unemployment Rate 3.0%
Median Age 40.3 years
Homeownership Rate 66.9%
Affordability Ratio 5.0x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 24.4%
High School Graduation Rate 90.3%
Diversity Index 17/100
Population 7,086 15th of 439
Median Income $54,404 bottom 30%
Poverty Rate 9.2% 26% lower than national
Median Home Value $271,200 top 20%

How Sturgis Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population7,1117,086-0.4%
Median household income$51,101$54,404+6.5%
Median home value$236,400$271,200+14.7%

How Sturgis Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 16.4%
$25K-$50K 21.5%
$50K-$100K 37.7%
$100K+ 24.4%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.6%
$10K-$15K
2.6%
$15K-$20K
3.6%
$20K-$25K
4.6%
$25K-$30K
1.6%
$30K-$35K
3.8%
$35K-$40K
7.2%
$40K-$45K
3.5%
$45K-$50K
5.3%
$50K-$60K
15.3%
$60K-$75K
11.0%
$75K-$100K
11.4%
$100K-$125K
7.5%
$125K-$150K
7.1%
$150K-$200K
4.5%
$200K+
5.3%

Employment

3.0% Unemployment Rate State: 2.9%|National: 5.2%
69.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 66.9%
Renter 33.1%
Affordability Index Expensive
5.0x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $780/mo 17.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

17out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 35 | National average: 61

Education

Sturgis Rankings in South Dakota

#15 Population of 439
#245 Median Income of 345
#155 Education of 438
#37 Home Value of 315

Other Cities in Meade County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Summerset 3,022 $119,271 8.6% $368,300
Blackhawk 2,934 $71,993 1.8% $273,300
Piedmont 981 $53,866 7.3% $324,200
Wonderland Homes 745 $86,932 0.0% $264,900
Blucksberg Mountain 692 $89,500 4.3% $328,900
Faith 297 $47,083 14.1% $151,000

Cities Similar to Sturgis

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Rapid Valley6,975$83,208$255,50019.8%4.5%
Madison6,094$65,593$193,10034.4%9.5%
Belle Fourche5,804$65,071$222,50017.1%10.6%
Tea6,786$120,139$351,10047.1%4.7%
Harrisburg8,519$108,724$312,20043.8%0.5%

Population Overview

Sturgis is a small city located in South Dakota, within Meade County. The total population is 7,086. It ranks as the 15th most populous out of 439 Census-designated places in South Dakota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sturgis is 40.3 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 38.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Sturgis is $54,404. This is 28% lower than the state median of $75,081. It is also 33% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.2%. This is 23% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 3.0%. This is 3% higher than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $271,200. Housing costs are 5% higher than the state median of $257,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.0x. 66.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% lower than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Sturgis has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.0%.

Education

24.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 24% 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 90.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Sturgis, 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 Sturgis, South Dakota?

Sturgis, South Dakota has a population of 7,086 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Sturgis, SD?

The median household income in Sturgis is $54,404, which is 33% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Sturgis, SD?

The poverty rate in Sturgis is 9.2%. This means approximately 639 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Sturgis, South Dakota?

Sturgis's population is 91.1% White, 1.9% Black, 3.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.

What is the median home value in Sturgis, SD?

The median home value in Sturgis is $271,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.0x.

How educated is Sturgis, South Dakota?

24.4% of adults (25+) in Sturgis hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.