The Rational Moderate

State profile

South Dakota

20 official measures, each beside the U.S. value, with South Dakota’s rank among the 50 states and DC and its margin of error where the source publishes one. Rank 1 is the highest value; a rank says nothing on its own about better or worse. Select a measure to see every state.

marks a rank that is not statistically different from the next higher state, by the Census Bureau’s test at the 90 percent confidence level. Margins of error are 90 percent.

Each comparison with the U.S. value uses the same test wherever the source publishes a margin of error. A difference is stated only where the test confirms it or no test is possible; untested ones are marked. For life expectancy the U.S. figure comes from a separate NCHS report without a standard error, so that test uses the state’s alone. A state is part of the nation, so the two estimates are not fully independent, which the Census Bureau’s ACS handbook warns about. The test does not adjust for it, and allowing for it changes none of the comparisons shown.

People

  • Population

    July 1, 2025

    935,094

    U.S.
    341,784,857; South Dakota is 0.27% of the U.S. total.
    Rank
    46 of 51. No margin of error is published, so the rank carries no test.

  • Population growth

    July 1, 2024 to July 1, 2025

    +0.86%

    U.S.
    +0.52%; South Dakota is 0.34 points higher than the U.S. value (not tested).
    Rank
    12 of 51. No margin of error is published, so the rank carries no test.

  • Median age

    July 1, 2025

    38.4 years

    U.S.
    39.4 years; South Dakota is 1.0 years lower than the U.S. value (not tested).
    Rank
    40 of 51. No margin of error is published, so the rank carries no test.

Income and output

  • Median household income

    2024

    $76,881

    plus or minus $1,990

    U.S.
    $81,604; South Dakota is $4,723 lower than the U.S. value.
    Rank
    30 of 51. Not statistically different from the next higher state, Wisconsin, or from the next lower state, Maine.
    Price-adjusted
    $86,787, plus or minus $2,246: income divided by South Dakota’s 2024 regional price parity (88.6, U.S. = 100). Computed by this site, not published by Census or BEA, and not ranked.

  • Per capita personal income

    2025

    $78,999

    U.S.
    $77,028; South Dakota is $1,971 higher than the U.S. value (not tested).
    Rank
    14 of 51. No margin of error is published, so the rank carries no test.

  • Real per capita personal income

    2024

    $69,153

    U.S.
    $59,195; South Dakota is $9,958 higher than the U.S. value (not tested).
    Rank
    5 of 51. No margin of error is published, so the rank carries no test.

  • GDP per capita

    2025

    $87,694

    U.S.
    $90,294; South Dakota is $2,600 lower than the U.S. value (not tested).
    Rank
    21 of 51. No margin of error is published, so the rank carries no test.

  • Poverty rate

    2024

    10.41%

    plus or minus 0.82%

    U.S.
    12.15%; South Dakota is 1.74 points lower than the U.S. value.
    Rank
    34 of 51. Not statistically different from the next higher state, Idaho, or from the next lower state, Wisconsin.

Prices and housing

  • Price level (RPP)

    2024

    88.6

    U.S.
    100.0; South Dakota is 11.4 points lower than the U.S. value (not tested).
    Rank
    46 of 51. No margin of error is published, so the rank carries no test.

  • Median home value

    2024

    $289,600

    plus or minus $6,421

    U.S.
    $360,600; South Dakota is $71,000 lower than the U.S. value.
    Rank
    33 of 51. Not statistically different from the next higher state, Wisconsin.

  • Median gross rent

    2024

    $999

    plus or minus $31

    U.S.
    $1,487; South Dakota is $488 lower than the U.S. value.
    Rank
    44 of 51. Not statistically different from the next lower state, Kentucky.

  • Rent burden

    2024

    41.90%

    plus or minus 3.10%

    U.S.
    51.77%; South Dakota is 9.87 points lower than the U.S. value.
    Rank
    49 of 51. Not statistically different from the next higher state, Montana, or from the next lower state, Alaska.

  • Homeownership rate

    2024

    68.29%

    plus or minus 1.15%

    U.S.
    65.27%; South Dakota is 3.02 points higher than the U.S. value.
    Rank
    20 of 51. Not statistically different from the next higher state, Missouri, or from the next lower state, Kentucky.

  • Residential electricity price

    January to July 2026

    14.50 cents

    U.S.
    18.19 cents; South Dakota is 3.69 cents lower than the U.S. value (not tested).
    Rank
    36 of 51. No margin of error is published, so the rank carries no test.
    July 2026
    15.37 cents in that month alone (U.S. 18.31 cents)

Average residential electricity price, cents per kilowatthour, South Dakota and the United States, 1990 to 2024

Cents per kilowatthour, nominal (not adjusted for inflation), all residential customers. From EIA’s annual survey of utilities.

6 cents8 cents10 cents12 cents14 cents16 cents1990200020102020
Data table
YearSouth DakotaUnited States
19906.957.83
19916.918.04
19927.108.21
19937.048.32
19947.068.38
19957.088.40
19967.008.36
19977.088.43
19987.278.26
19997.428.16
20007.428.24
20017.428.58
20027.408.44
20037.478.72
20047.658.95
20057.779.45
20067.8310.40
20078.0710.65
20088.2711.26
20098.4911.51
20108.9711.54
20119.3511.72
201210.0711.88
201310.2612.13
201410.4712.52
201511.0812.65
201611.4712.55
201711.7712.89
201811.5912.87
201911.5513.01
202011.7513.15
202112.2213.66
202212.0915.04
202312.3216.00
202412.8616.48

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, EIA-861 historical state data (HS861). HS861 1990-2009.xlsx and HS861 2010-.xlsx, sheet Total Electric Industry, RESIDENTIAL Price · retrieved Oct. 2, 2026 · 35 rows · as of 2024 · annual. The CSV has every state since 1990. Download CSV

Work

  • Unemployment rate

    August 2026

    2.0%

    U.S.
    4.1%; South Dakota is 2.1 points lower than the U.S. value (not tested).
    Rank
    51 of 51. No margin of error is published, so the rank carries no test.

  • Labor force participation

    August 2026

    66.5%

    U.S.
    61.6%; South Dakota is 4.9 points higher than the U.S. value (not tested).
    Rank
    7 of 51. No margin of error is published, so the rank carries no test.

Unemployment rate, South Dakota and the United States, Sept. 2016 to Aug. 2026

Percent, seasonally adjusted. South Dakota: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (model-based). United States: the national rate from BLS’s Current Population Survey. BLS published no figure for Oct. 2025 (the 2025 lapse in appropriations); that month is shaded, the line joins the months on either side, and the table shows the gap.

0%5%10%15%20182020202220242026
  • Months with no BLS figure
Data table
MonthSouth DakotaUnited States
Sept. 20163.15.0
Oct. 20163.24.9
Nov. 20163.24.7
Dec. 20163.14.7
Jan. 20173.14.7
Feb. 20173.14.6
March 20173.04.4
April 20173.04.4
May 20173.04.4
June 20173.04.3
July 20173.04.3
Aug. 20173.04.4
Sept. 20173.04.3
Oct. 20173.04.2
Nov. 20173.04.2
Dec. 20173.04.1
Jan. 20182.94.0
Feb. 20182.94.1
March 20182.94.0
April 20182.84.0
May 20182.83.8
June 20182.74.0
July 20182.73.8
Aug. 20182.73.8
Sept. 20182.73.7
Oct. 20182.73.8
Nov. 20182.73.8
Dec. 20182.73.9
Jan. 20192.84.0
Feb. 20192.83.8
March 20192.83.8
April 20192.83.7
May 20192.83.6
June 20192.83.6
July 20192.83.7
Aug. 20192.73.6
Sept. 20192.73.5
Oct. 20192.73.6
Nov. 20192.63.6
Dec. 20192.63.6
Jan. 20202.53.6
Feb. 20202.53.5
March 20202.44.4
April 20208.814.8
May 20206.613.2
June 20205.311.0
July 20204.710.2
Aug. 20203.98.4
Sept. 20203.67.8
Oct. 20203.36.9
Nov. 20203.16.7
Dec. 20203.06.7
Jan. 20212.86.4
Feb. 20212.86.2
March 20212.86.1
April 20212.86.1
May 20212.85.8
June 20212.75.9
July 20212.65.4
Aug. 20212.55.1
Sept. 20212.44.7
Oct. 20212.34.5
Nov. 20212.14.1
Dec. 20212.03.9
Jan. 20221.94.0
Feb. 20221.93.9
March 20221.93.7
April 20221.93.7
May 20221.93.6
June 20221.93.6
July 20221.93.5
Aug. 20222.03.6
Sept. 20222.03.5
Oct. 20222.03.6
Nov. 20221.93.6
Dec. 20221.93.5
Jan. 20231.83.5
Feb. 20231.83.6
March 20231.83.5
April 20231.83.4
May 20231.83.6
June 20231.83.6
July 20231.83.5
Aug. 20231.83.7
Sept. 20231.83.7
Oct. 20231.83.9
Nov. 20231.83.7
Dec. 20231.83.8
Jan. 20241.83.7
Feb. 20241.73.9
March 20241.73.9
April 20241.83.9
May 20241.83.9
June 20241.84.1
July 20241.84.2
Aug. 20241.94.2
Sept. 20241.94.1
Oct. 20241.94.1
Nov. 20241.94.2
Dec. 20241.94.1
Jan. 20252.04.0
Feb. 20252.04.2
March 20252.04.2
April 20252.04.2
May 20252.04.3
June 20252.04.1
July 20252.04.3
Aug. 20252.14.3
Sept. 20252.14.4
Oct. 2025no datano data
Nov. 20252.24.5
Dec. 20252.24.4
Jan. 20262.24.3
Feb. 20262.34.4
March 20262.34.3
April 20262.24.3
May 20262.14.3
June 20262.04.2
July 20262.04.1
Aug. 20262.04.1

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS); national column from the CPS via FRED. LASST<FIPS>0000000000003 for each state (column = USPS code); US = FRED UNRATE · retrieved Oct. 2, 2026 · 608 rows · as of August 2026 · monthly. The CSV has every state since January 1976. Download CSV

Labor force participation rate, South Dakota and the United States, Sept. 2016 to Aug. 2026

Percent, seasonally adjusted. South Dakota: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (model-based). United States: the national rate from BLS’s Current Population Survey. BLS published no figure for Oct. 2025 (the 2025 lapse in appropriations); that month is shaded, the line joins the months on either side, and the table shows the gap.

60%62%64%66%68%70%20182020202220242026
  • Months with no BLS figure
Data table
MonthSouth DakotaUnited States
Sept. 201669.562.9
Oct. 201669.562.8
Nov. 201669.462.7
Dec. 201669.462.7
Jan. 201769.362.8
Feb. 201769.362.9
March 201769.362.9
April 201769.463.0
May 201769.462.8
June 201769.462.8
July 201769.462.9
Aug. 201769.462.9
Sept. 201769.463.1
Oct. 201769.362.7
Nov. 201769.262.7
Dec. 201769.262.7
Jan. 201869.262.7
Feb. 201869.363.0
March 201869.362.9
April 201869.462.9
May 201869.462.9
June 201869.463.0
July 201869.363.0
Aug. 201869.262.6
Sept. 201869.262.8
Oct. 201869.262.9
Nov. 201869.262.9
Dec. 201869.363.0
Jan. 201969.363.1
Feb. 201969.463.1
March 201969.463.0
April 201969.562.8
May 201969.562.9
June 201969.563.0
July 201969.663.1
Aug. 201969.663.1
Sept. 201969.663.2
Oct. 201969.663.3
Nov. 201969.663.3
Dec. 201969.663.3
Jan. 202069.463.3
Feb. 202069.263.3
March 202068.962.6
April 202069.060.1
May 202069.060.8
June 202068.761.5
July 202068.861.5
Aug. 202068.861.7
Sept. 202069.061.4
Oct. 202068.961.7
Nov. 202068.961.5
Dec. 202068.961.5
Jan. 202168.761.4
Feb. 202168.761.4
March 202168.861.5
April 202168.861.6
May 202168.961.6
June 202168.961.7
July 202168.861.8
Aug. 202168.761.7
Sept. 202168.761.7
Oct. 202168.661.8
Nov. 202168.661.9
Dec. 202168.662.0
Jan. 202268.662.2
Feb. 202268.662.3
March 202268.662.4
April 202268.662.2
May 202268.562.3
June 202268.462.2
July 202268.362.1
Aug. 202268.262.3
Sept. 202268.162.2
Oct. 202268.162.2
Nov. 202268.162.1
Dec. 202268.162.3
Jan. 202368.162.4
Feb. 202368.262.5
March 202368.262.6
April 202368.362.6
May 202368.362.6
June 202368.362.6
July 202368.362.6
Aug. 202368.262.8
Sept. 202368.262.7
Oct. 202368.162.6
Nov. 202368.162.8
Dec. 202368.062.5
Jan. 202468.062.5
Feb. 202468.062.6
March 202467.962.7
April 202468.062.6
May 202468.062.6
June 202468.062.6
July 202468.062.7
Aug. 202468.162.7
Sept. 202468.162.7
Oct. 202468.162.5
Nov. 202468.162.4
Dec. 202468.162.5
Jan. 202568.162.6
Feb. 202568.262.5
March 202568.262.5
April 202568.262.6
May 202568.262.4
June 202568.262.3
July 202568.262.2
Aug. 202568.262.3
Sept. 202568.262.5
Oct. 2025no datano data
Nov. 202568.262.5
Dec. 202568.162.4
Jan. 202668.062.1
Feb. 202667.862.0
March 202667.661.9
April 202667.461.8
May 202667.361.8
June 202667.061.5
July 202666.861.4
Aug. 202666.561.6

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS); national column from the CPS via FRED. LASST<FIPS>0000000000008 for each state (column = USPS code); US = FRED CIVPART · retrieved Oct. 2, 2026 · 608 rows · as of August 2026 · monthly. The CSV has every state since January 1976. Download CSV

Health and education

  • Life expectancy

    2022

    77.3 years

    plus or minus 0.27 years

    U.S.
    77.5 years; South Dakota is not statistically different from the U.S. value (its estimate is 0.2 years lower).
    Rank
    25 of 51. Not statistically different from the next higher state, Pennsylvania, or from the next lower state, Montana.

  • Uninsured rate

    2024

    8.11%

    plus or minus 0.57%

    U.S.
    8.20%; South Dakota is not statistically different from the U.S. value (its estimate is 0.09 points lower).
    Rank
    20 of 51. Not statistically different from the next higher state, Alabama, or from the next lower state, Colorado.

  • Bachelor's degree or higher

    2024

    34.18%

    plus or minus 1.04%

    U.S.
    36.85%; South Dakota is 2.67 points lower than the U.S. value.
    Rank
    31 of 51. Not statistically different from the next higher state, Wisconsin, or from the next lower state, North Dakota.

Civic participation

  • Voter turnout (self-reported)

    Nov. 5, 2024 general election

    58.9%

    plus or minus 3.8%

    U.S.
    65.3%; South Dakota is 6.4 points lower than the U.S. value.
    Rank
    46 of 51. Not statistically different from the next higher state, New York, or from the next lower state, Alabama.

Sources and data

Every figure on this page, with its source, period and the CSV behind it (all 50 states and DC, with ranks and the test). Retrieved Oct. 2, 2026.

  1. Population, July 1, 2025: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025. CSV
  2. Population growth, July 1, 2024 to July 1, 2025: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025. CSV
  3. Median age, July 1, 2025: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025 (SC-EST2025-AGESEX). CSV
  4. Median household income, 2024: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year, table-based Summary File. CSV
  5. Median home value, 2024: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year, table-based Summary File. CSV
  6. Median gross rent, 2024: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year, table-based Summary File. CSV
  7. Poverty rate, 2024: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year, table-based Summary File. CSV
  8. Rent burden, 2024: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year, table-based Summary File. CSV
  9. Homeownership rate, 2024: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year, table-based Summary File. CSV
  10. Uninsured rate, 2024: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year, table-based Summary File. CSV
  11. Bachelor's degree or higher, 2024: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year, table-based Summary File. CSV
  12. Price level (RPP), 2024: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by State (SARPP). CSV
  13. Real per capita personal income, 2024: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Real Personal Income by State (SARPI). CSV
  14. Per capita personal income, 2025: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, State Annual Personal Income (SAINC1). CSV
  15. GDP per capita, 2025: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, GDP by State (SAGDP1), and U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 population. CSV
  16. Unemployment rate, August 2026: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). CSV
  17. Labor force participation, August 2026: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). CSV
  18. Life expectancy, 2022: National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. State Life Tables, 2022 (National Vital Statistics Reports Vol. 74, No. 12). CSV
  19. Residential electricity price, January to July 2026: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Tables 5.6.B and 5.6.A. CSV
  20. Voter turnout (self-reported), Nov. 5, 2024 general election: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, November 2024 Voting and Registration Supplement, Table 4a. CSV
  21. Unemployment rate by state, monthly, January 1976 to August 2026: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS); national column from the CPS via FRED. CSV
  22. Labor force participation rate by state, monthly, January 1976 to August 2026: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS); national column from the CPS via FRED. CSV
  23. Average residential electricity price by state, annual, 1990 to 2024: U.S. Energy Information Administration, EIA-861 historical state data (HS861). CSV