Vilas, South Dakota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Vilas, South Dakota had a total population of 21, the 407th largest town in South Dakota. The poverty rate is 0.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Only 0.0% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Unemployment rate of 25.0% is notably above the national average.
Vilas Quick Facts
How Vilas 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 | 16 | 21 | +31.3% |
How Vilas 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+)
Vilas Rankings in South Dakota
Explore South Dakota Rankings
Other Cities in Miner County
Cities Similar to Vilas
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolton | 21 | $63,929 | $160,600 | 0.0% | 4.8% |
| Crocker | 22 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Seneca | 22 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 27.3% |
| Draper | 20 | $66,250 | N/A | 20.0% | 0.0% |
| Prairie City | 20 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 0.0% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 21, Vilas'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
Vilas is a small community located in South Dakota, within Miner County. The total population is 21. It ranks as the 407th most populous out of 439 Census-designated places in South Dakota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Vilas is 9.8 years. This is 74% lower than the state median of 38.0 years. With 61.9% of the population under 18, Vilas has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.
Economy, Income & Housing
The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Vilas. 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 unemployment rate is 25.0%. This is 753% higher than the state rate of 2.9%. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 46% higher than the state average of 68.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Every resident counted in Vilas 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
0.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Vilas, 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 Vilas, South Dakota?
Vilas, South Dakota has a population of 21 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Vilas, SD?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median household income estimate for Vilas — the community is too small for the ACS sample. The national median is $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Vilas, SD?
The ACS sample for Vilas recorded no residents below the federal poverty line. Because the community is small, this indicates that the survey did not capture poverty here rather than that no poverty exists — the estimate carries a wide margin of error.
What is the racial makeup of Vilas, South Dakota?
Vilas's population is 100.0% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Vilas, SD?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median home value estimate for Vilas — there are too few owner-occupied homes in the ACS sample. The national median is $332,700.
How educated is Vilas, South Dakota?
0.0% of adults (25+) in Vilas hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.