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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Box Elder

South Dakota · 2,841 residents · 14.8 sq mi
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The short version

With 2,841 people, Box Elder is a city in South Dakota. This skews young, with a median age of 26.3. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 8% of adults. The typical home is worth $53,300. Getting to work takes 10 minutes on average. Median household income is $32,344, under the $42,589 national median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 26.3
US median: 35.2
Less educated
8% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
More affordable
home values down 9%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,841
+6%since 1990
from 2,680 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
26.3
+9%since 1990
from 24.0 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
14.8 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K5K8K11K14K19902000201020202024Box Elder
202413K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 510.1%(286)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 99.7%(275)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 149.3%(263)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 199.3%(264)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 249.3%(265)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413.9%(395)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4417%(483)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5411.7%(333)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 646.4%(183)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 742.4%(68)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 840.7%(21)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over0.2%(5)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$32,344
+19%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $20,625 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$12,692
+63%since 1990
from $7,797 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
15.9%
−2.8 ptssince 1990
from 18.8% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$53,300
−9%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $44,700 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$504
+8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $355 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
62.4%
+11.3 ptssince 1990
from 51.2% in 1990
37.6% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic84.4%(2,263)
Black5.8%(155)
Hispanic / Latino3.1%(84)
Asian3.7%(100)
2000
White, non-Hispanic81.9%(2,327)
Black2.2%(62)
Hispanic / Latino3.6%(101)
Asian1.9%(55)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

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)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
8.1%
−1.7 ptssince 1990
from 9.8% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
86.1%
−1.0 ptssince 1990
from 87.1% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
1.8%
−2.6 ptssince 1990
from 4.4% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
10.0 min
−16%since 1990
from 12.0 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married31.6%(310)
Married55%(540)
Widowed1.2%(12)
Divorced12.2%(120)
Women 15+
Never married24.6%(246)
Married54%(541)
Widowed5.3%(53)
Divorced16.1%(161)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured
10.0%
−5.8 ptssince 2013
from 15.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
42.2%
−2.7 ptssince 2020
from 44.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
7.4%
−1.1 ptssince 2020
from 8.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
10.7%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 10.7% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
14.2%
+2.2 ptssince 2020
from 12.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
8.3%
+1.5 ptssince 2020
from 6.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
74.8%
−1.9 ptssince 2020
from 76.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
28.1%
+2.2 ptssince 2020
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)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)30.6%(515)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era13.6%(228)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War1.1%(19)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Box Elder to nearby cities

BOX ELDER VS
Rapid City
Income$70,870+119%
Home value$299,400+462%
Population80,589+478%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BOX ELDER VS
Spearfish
Income$65,688+103%
Home value$346,200+550%
Population14,154+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Box Elder, South Dakota?

Box Elder, South Dakota has about 2,841 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Box Elder, South Dakota?

The typical household in Box Elder, South Dakota earns about $32,344 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 $53,300, and the typical rent is about $504 a month.

How educated are people in Box Elder, South Dakota?

About 8.1% 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 15.9% 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 161 residents, a change of about 6 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →