CensusEasy
CITY

Box Elder

South Dakota · 13,936 residents (2025 est.) · 14.753 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Rapid City metro area
Compare
Notable rankings
#292Youngest by median ageof 6,82628.8
The short version

Box Elder has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $73,008. The city has more than doubled in size since 2000, adding 10,061 residents. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $302,100. At a median age of 28.8, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

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

Total population
12,902
+354%since 2000
from 2,841 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
875 / sq mi
+257%since 2009
from 245 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
28.8
+10%since 2000
from 26.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:13,936 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K5K8K11K14K1990201020202024Box Elder
202413K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 510%(1,296)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 98.1%(1,040)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.7%(868)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 194.7%(601)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2411.6%(1,496)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3422%(2,838)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.8%(1,389)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549%(1,157)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 649.7%(1,254)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 744.7%(603)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 842.6%(341)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over0.1%(19)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$73,008
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,344 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,308
+162%since 2000
from $12,692 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
47.2%
+29.6 ptssince 2009
from 17.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
7.5%
−8.4 ptssince 2000
from 15.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.382
+16%since 2010
from 0.328 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade13.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Information12.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance5.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services5.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$302,100
+211%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $53,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,491
+62%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $504 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
48.2%
−14.2 ptssince 2000
from 62.4% in 2000
51.8% rent
Vacancy rate
9.1%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
21.4%
−16.4 ptssince 2009
from 37.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.5%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 43.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.1
+40%since 2009
from 3.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
87
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Box Elder on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic81.9%(2,327)
Black2.2%(62)
Hispanic / Latino3.6%(101)
Asian1.9%(55)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic71.1%(9,177)
Black2.8%(356)
Hispanic / Latino8.2%(1,061)
Asian1.1%(148)
Other16.7%(2,160)
Diversity Score
57
+45%since 2009
from 39 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican5%(644)
Puerto Rican2.2%(287)
Spaniard0.3%(40)
Dominican0.1%(18)
Salvadoran0.1%(7)
Asian origin
Filipino0.4%(48)
Chinese0.3%(36)
Japanese0.3%(34)
Korean0.2%(23)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(12)
Chamorro0.1%(9)
Ancestry
German22.1%(2,846)
Irish12.6%(1,632)
English11.3%(1,455)
American5.6%(721)
Norwegian4.1%(535)
Dutch2.9%(368)
Polish2.8%(363)
French2%(259)
Italian1.9%(251)
Scottish1.4%(182)
Swedish1%(125)
Russian0.9%(114)
+ 12 more ancestry groups with data
Hungarian0.8%(103)
Czech0.7%(89)
Danish0.7%(85)
Welsh0.5%(70)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(54)
Canadian0.4%(50)
Ukrainian0.3%(33)
Turkish0.2%(32)
Austrian0.2%(28)
West Indian0.1%(13)
Slovene0.1%(9)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Mexican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.0%
+19.9 ptssince 2000
from 8.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.4%
+6.3 ptssince 2000
from 86.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.0%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 1.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.1 min
+100%since 2000
from 10.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.8%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 73.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.8%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.9%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.0%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
1.3%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.9%
−2.4 ptssince 2011
from 7.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
78.1%
−1.2 ptssince 2011
from 79.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.6%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.4%
−30.3 ptssince 2009
from 60.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Female
50.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Foreign born
1.6%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
21.2%
−25.4 ptssince 2009
from 46.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.8%
+3.5 ptssince 2012
from 10.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.0%
−74.2 ptssince 2013
from 84.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.3%
+12.5 ptssince 2017
from 80.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.8%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 94.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 2.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married30.9%(1,579)
Married55.5%(2,838)
Widowed1.2%(59)
Divorced12.5%(641)
Women 15+
Never married25.2%(1,155)
Married59%(2,705)
Widowed2.6%(119)
Divorced13.1%(602)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Box Elder

Jensen Beach
Pop 12,531
Lockhart
Pop 15,371
Iona
Pop 13,631
Lantana
Pop 12,449
Places similar to Box Elder
Head to head

Compare Box Elder to nearby cities

BOX ELDER VS
Rapid City
Income$70,870−3%
Home value$299,400−1%
Population80,589+478%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BOX ELDER VS
Spearfish
Income$65,688−10%
Home value$346,200+15%
Population14,154+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
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.

Keep going

Explore from here

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

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

How we source and harmonize this data →