Yankton, South Dakota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Yankton, South Dakota had a total population of 15,540, the 7th largest city in South Dakota, with a median household income of $67,804, which is 10% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 14.1%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 2.0%.
Yankton Quick Facts
How Yankton 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 | 15,501 | 15,540 | +0.3% |
| Median household income | $69,071 | $67,804 | -1.8% |
| Median home value | $202,300 | $222,700 | +10.1% |
How Yankton 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+)
Yankton Rankings in South Dakota
Explore South Dakota Rankings
Other Cities in Yankton County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gayville | 519 | $79,375 | 4.0% | $99,300 |
| Irene | 456 | $66,563 | 3.7% | $87,300 |
| Mission Hill | 200 | $71,250 | 5.5% | $104,200 |
| Volin | 139 | $112,557 | 2.9% | $115,600 |
| Jamesville Colony | 101 | N/A | 37.1% | N/A |
| Lesterville | 91 | $56,250 | 7.7% | $70,800 |
| Utica | 68 | $51,000 | 4.4% | $52,500 |
Cities Similar to Yankton
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell | 15,649 | $58,620 | $192,200 | 23.6% | 12.5% |
| Huron | 14,385 | $61,452 | $159,000 | 27.0% | 16.1% |
| Pierre | 13,948 | $77,672 | $230,700 | 39.0% | 10.1% |
| Spearfish | 12,930 | $65,688 | $346,200 | 41.8% | 15.2% |
| Box Elder | 12,902 | $73,008 | $302,100 | 28.1% | 7.5% |
Population Overview
Yankton is a small city located in South Dakota, within Yankton County. The total population is 15,540. It ranks as the 7th most populous out of 439 Census-designated places in South Dakota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Yankton is 41.4 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 38.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Yankton is $67,804. This is 10% lower than the state median of $75,081. It is also 16% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.1%. This is 18% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 2.0%. This is 30% lower than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $222,700. Housing costs are 13% lower than the state median of $257,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 66.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 68.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Yankton is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.5%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.
Education
33.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 4% higher 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 93.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Yankton, 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 Yankton, South Dakota?
Yankton, South Dakota has a population of 15,540 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Yankton, SD?
The median household income in Yankton is $67,804, which is 16% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Yankton, SD?
The poverty rate in Yankton is 14.1%. This means approximately 2,034 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Yankton, South Dakota?
Yankton's population is 84.8% White, 2.2% Black, 6.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.4% Asian.
What is the median home value in Yankton, SD?
The median home value in Yankton is $222,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x.
How educated is Yankton, South Dakota?
33.2% of adults (25+) in Yankton hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 11.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.