CensusEasy
CITY

Belle Fourche

South Dakota · 5,791 residents (2025 est.) · 8.854 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Belle Fourche has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $65,071. Population has grown 27% since 2000. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $222,500.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 122%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,804
+27%since 2000
from 4,565 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
656 / sq mi
+27%since 2000
from 516 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.3
+1%since 2000
from 37.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,791 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
4K5K5K6K6K1990201020202024Belle Fourche
20246K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$65,071
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,875 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,513
+174%since 2000
from $14,051 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
44.3%
+29.9 ptssince 2009
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.6%
−2.0 ptssince 2000
from 12.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.492
+20%since 2010
from 0.411 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade9.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing8.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Other services5.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Construction5.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration4.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing4.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing3.4%
US avg: 0.4%
Finance & insurance1.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$222,500
+122%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $55,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$983
+37%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $395 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
65.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 65.6% in 2000
34.5% rent
Vacancy rate
6.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.8%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.6%
+7.9 ptssince 2009
from 36.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
+67%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
56
RELATED:See current rent listings in Belle Fourche on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.1%(4,252)
Black0.2%(7)
Hispanic / Latino3.7%(169)
Asian0.2%(7)
Other0%
Diversity Score9.9%(453)
2024
White, non-Hispanic89.5%(5,196)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino5.2%(301)
Asian0%(0)
Other5.3%(307)
Diversity Score24.1%(1,401)
Diversity Score
24
+143%since 2000
from 10 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.1%
+7.2 ptssince 2000
from 9.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.7%
+7.0 ptssince 2000
from 77.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.5%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 1.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.8 min
+94%since 2000
from 13.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.4%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 72.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
14.9%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 17.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.3%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% 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
5.9%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.6%
−2.2 ptssince 2011
from 4.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
68.2%
+2.2 ptssince 2011
from 66.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.8%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 17.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.8%
−27.2 ptssince 2009
from 62.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.2%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Female
50.8%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Foreign born
0.1%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.4%
−40.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.7%
+2.1 ptssince 2012
from 14.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
14.1%
−67.7 ptssince 2013
from 81.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.2%
+16.3 ptssince 2017
from 74.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.3%
−3.9 ptssince 2016
from 99.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.2%
+3.2 ptssince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Belle Fourche

Naples Manor
Pop 5,501
Elsmere
Pop 6,196
Floral City
Pop 5,437
Ocean City
Pop 5,941
Places similar to Belle Fourche
Head to head

Compare Belle Fourche to nearby cities

BELLE FOURCHE VS
Spearfish
Income$65,688+1%
Home value$346,200+56%
Population14,154+144%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BELLE FOURCHE VS
Rapid City
Income$70,870+9%
Home value$299,400+35%
Population80,589+1292%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BELLE FOURCHE VS
Box Elder
Income$73,008+12%
Home value$302,100+36%
Population13,936+141%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BELLE FOURCHE VS
Gillette
Income$81,316+25%
Home value$264,500+19%
Population34,024+488%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Belle Fourche, South Dakota?

Belle Fourche, South Dakota has about 5,804 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Belle Fourche, South Dakota?

The typical household in Belle Fourche, South Dakota earns about $65,071 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Belle Fourche, South Dakota expensive?

In Belle Fourche, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $222,500, and the typical rent is about $983 a month.

How educated are people in Belle Fourche, South Dakota?

About 17.1% of adults age 25 and over in Belle Fourche, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Belle Fourche, South Dakota?

About 10.6% of people in Belle Fourche, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Belle Fourche, South Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Belle Fourche, South Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,469 residents, a change of about 34 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
South Dakota
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Belle Fourche with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →