Wolsey, South Dakota Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 692, Wolsey'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

Wolsey is a small community located in South Dakota, within Beadle County. The total population is 692. It ranks as the 121st most populous out of 439 Census-designated places in South Dakota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wolsey is 33.8 years. This is 11% lower than the state median of 38.0 years. With 34.7% of the population under 18, Wolsey has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Wolsey is $57,500. This is 23% lower than the state median of $75,081. It is also 29% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 6.4%. This is 47% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Wolsey, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $101,200. Housing costs are 61% lower than the state median of $257,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Wolsey is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Wolsey is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 18.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (18.6% vs 4.8%).

Education

24.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 23% 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 77.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Wolsey, 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.