United States › South Dakota › Box Elder CITY
Box Elder South Dakota · 13,936 residents (2025 est.) · 14.8 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 12,902 people, Box Elder is a city in South Dakota. The population has more than tripled since 2000, adding 10,061 people. This skews young, with a median age of 28.8. 48% of homes are owner-occupied. The foreign-born share is 2%. 79% were living in the same home a year earlier.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 28.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 211%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 2,841 in 2000
13,936 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
875 / sq mi
+257%since 2009
from 245 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 26.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K 5K 8K 11K 14K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Box Elder Age distribution, 2024
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Section 02
Income & economy $73,008
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,344 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $12,692 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 17.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 15.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.328 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 5.2%
Public administration 4.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing 0.5%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.4%
Education & health services 0.2%
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$302,100
+211%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $53,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,491
+62%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $504 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 62.4% in 2000
51.8% rent
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.74 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 37.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 43.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.0 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 81.9%(2,327)
Hispanic / Latino 3.6%(101)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 71.1%(9,177)
Hispanic / Latino 8.2%(1,061)
from 39 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 12 more ancestry groups with data from 8.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 86.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 1.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 10.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 73.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 7.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 79.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 75.5% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 21.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 10.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 15.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 80.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 95.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 72.5% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 94.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 2.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 30.9%(1,579)
Women 15+
Never married 25.2%(1,155)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 15.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 44.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 8.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 10.7% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 12.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 6.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 76.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 25.9% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 54.8%(922)
Gulf War (1990s) 30.6%(515)
Share of the 1,682 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Compare Box Elder to nearby cities Frequently asked
How many people live in Box Elder, South Dakota? Box Elder, South Dakota has about 12,902 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Box Elder, South Dakota? The typical household in Box Elder, South Dakota earns about $73,008 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Box Elder, South Dakota expensive? In Box Elder, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $302,100, and the typical rent is about $1,491 a month.
How educated are people in Box Elder, South Dakota? About 28.0% of adults age 25 and over in Box Elder, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Box Elder, South Dakota? About 7.5% of people in Box Elder, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.
Has Box Elder, South Dakota grown since 1990? Yes, Box Elder, South Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 10,222 residents, a change of about 381 percent over that period.
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