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CITY

Aurora

South Dakota · 1,286 residents (2025 est.) · 0.837 sq mi
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The short version

Aurora is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $95,952. The city has more than doubled in size since 2000, adding 944 residents. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $234,600. At a median age of 29.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Poverty is rare here, at 2.7% of residents. It sits in the top 10% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 29.0
US median: 38.9
More educated
43% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 87%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,444
+189%since 2000
from 500 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,725 / sq mi
+189%since 2000
from 597 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
29.0
−13%since 2000
from 33.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,286 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3816719611K2K1990201020202024Aurora
20241K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$95,952
+37%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,456 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,287
+142%since 2000
from $15,819 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
58.5%
+44.0 ptssince 2009
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
2.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 2.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.295
−1%since 2010
from 0.297 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade33.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services6.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Information5%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance3.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade3%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$234,600
+87%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $68,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$840
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $366 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
75.0%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 71.7% in 2000
25.0% rent
Vacancy rate
3.6%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.7%
+12.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
30.7%
+11.7 ptssince 2009
from 19.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.4
+36%since 2000
from 1.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
90
RELATED:See current rent listings in Aurora on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98%(490)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0%(0)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
Diversity Score0%(0)
2024
White, non-Hispanic87.3%(1,260)
Black1%(15)
Hispanic / Latino8%(116)
Asian0.6%(9)
Other3%(44)
Diversity Score28.9%(417)
Diversity Score
29
from 0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
42.8%
+23.7 ptssince 2000
from 19.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
97.7%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 94.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.0%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.6 min
+17%since 2000
from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.4%
−6.9 ptssince 2009
from 87.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.9%
−6.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.3%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.4%
+10.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.5%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.3%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2011
from 1.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
85.3%
+1.3 ptssince 2011
from 83.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.4%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
35.5%
−22.1 ptssince 2009
from 57.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.9%
−6.7 ptssince 2009
from 58.6% in 2009
Female
48.1%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 41.4% in 2009
Foreign born
4.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.6%
−49.3 ptssince 2009
from 56.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
5.7%
−2.2 ptssince 2012
from 7.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.9%
−86.0 ptssince 2013
from 90.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
94.9%
+28.0 ptssince 2017
from 66.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
87.5%
−9.6 ptssince 2016
from 97.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.1%
+4.0 ptssince 2016
from 1.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Aurora to nearby cities

AURORA VS
Brookings
Income$63,493−34%
Home value$265,500+13%
Population25,355+1872%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
AURORA VS
Marshall
Income$68,566−29%
Home value$210,300−10%
Population14,171+1002%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
AURORA VS
Brandon
Income$110,806+15%
Home value$336,600+43%
Population11,306+779%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
AURORA VS
Watertown
Income$69,600−27%
Home value$229,400−2%
Population23,736+1746%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Aurora, South Dakota?

Aurora, South Dakota has about 1,444 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Aurora, South Dakota?

The typical household in Aurora, South Dakota earns about $95,952 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Aurora, South Dakota expensive?

In Aurora, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $234,600, and the typical rent is about $840 a month.

How educated are people in Aurora, South Dakota?

About 42.8% of adults age 25 and over in Aurora, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Aurora, South Dakota?

About 2.7% of people in Aurora, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Aurora, South Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Aurora, South Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 821 residents, a change of about 132 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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