Wessington city, South Dakota Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Wessington city is a small community located in South Dakota, within Hand County. The total population is 192. It ranks as the 239th most populous out of 439 cities and towns in South Dakota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wessington city is 33.0 years. This is 12% lower than the state median of 37.7 years. With 33.9% of the population under 18, Wessington city has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Wessington city is $65,250. This is 10% lower than the state median of $72,421. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 17% lower. The poverty rate stands at 20.8%. This is 73% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. 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 0.0%. This is 100% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $95,000. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $236,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, Wessington city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 85.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Wessington city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 4.6%.

Education

22.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 31.1%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 97.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Wessington city, South Dakota is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. 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. For official data, visit data.census.gov.