Tolstoy, South Dakota Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 57, Tolstoy'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

Tolstoy is a small community located in South Dakota, within Potter County. The total population is 57. It ranks as the 368th most populous out of 439 Census-designated places in South Dakota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Tolstoy is 32.9 years. This is 13% lower than the state median of 38.0 years. With 36.8% of the population under 18, Tolstoy has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 12.3% 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 Tolstoy is $76,071. This is 1% higher than the state median of $75,081. It is also 6% lower than the national median of $80,734. The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Tolstoy. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. The survey records no unemployed residents in Tolstoy, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. 83.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 22% higher than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Tolstoy 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

27.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 13% 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 94.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Tolstoy, 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.