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CITY

Dell Rapids

South Dakota · 3,852 residents (2025 est.) · 2.25 sq mi
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The short version

With 3,905 people, Dell Rapids is a city in South Dakota. That puts it in the top 7% of US cities for household income. Owners hold 82% of the housing stock. That is roughly 33% ahead of the South Dakota median. 2% of residents were born outside the United States. The population is up 31% since 2000.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.3
US median: 38.9
Average education
39% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 81%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

3,905
+31%since 2000
from 2,980 in 2000
3,852 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
1,732 / sq mi
+27%since 2009
from 1,362 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
39.3
+9%since 2000
from 36.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
2.25 sq mi
Population, 19902024
2K3K3K4K4K19902000201020202024Dell Rapids
20244K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 53.7%(143)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.5%(293)
US avg: 6%
10 to 149.7%(377)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.9%(268)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 241.6%(64)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3415.2%(595)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4416.2%(632)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.1%(396)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6411.1%(434)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.8%(461)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.5%(177)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.7%(65)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$100,170
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,572 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
$44,052
+148%since 2000
from $17,731 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
60.9%
+27.8 ptssince 2009
from 33.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
9.4%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
0.383
−6%since 2010
from 0.406 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade15%
US avg: 6.9%
Information11%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services6.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration6.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade6.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance5.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction4.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food4%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$301,700
+81%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $91,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
$962
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $422 in 2000
US average: $1,442
82.3%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 74.6% in 2000
17.7% rent
3.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.48 people
+3%since 2009
from 2.41 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
14.3%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 17.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
37.5%
−17.5 ptssince 2009
from 55.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
3.0
+39%since 2009
from 2.2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
82
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.2%(2,926)
Black0.1%(3)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(19)
Asian0.2%(6)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic92.2%(3,599)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino3.6%(139)
Asian0%(0)
Other4.3%(167)
18
+459%since 2009
from 3 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
Mexican2.6%(102)
Cuban0.6%(22)
Chilean0.4%(15)
Asian origin
Chinese0.6%(22)
Ancestry
German33%(1,289)
Norwegian16.9%(661)
Irish10.2%(399)
English9.6%(374)
Dutch6.2%(242)
Czech3.6%(141)
American3.4%(133)
Swedish3%(119)
French2.3%(91)
Russian1.8%(72)
Welsh1.7%(68)
Danish1.2%(48)
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.7%(29)
Arab0.6%(22)
Lebanese0.6%(22)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(20)
Italian0.4%(14)
Greek0.3%(11)
Belgian0.3%(10)
British0.2%(8)
Section 05

Education

38.9%
+17.6 ptssince 2000
from 21.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.2%
+12.9 ptssince 2000
from 83.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
8.2%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 6.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

24.8 min
+91%since 2000
from 13.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
84.4%
+7.4 ptssince 2009
from 77.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
4.5%
−16.2 ptssince 2009
from 20.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
7.5%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
3.6%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
2.9%
−11.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

0.3%
−3.7 ptssince 2011
from 4.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
67.0%
−5.2 ptssince 2011
from 72.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
83.3%
−8.0 ptssince 2020
from 91.3% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
18.1%
+5.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
43.4%
+9.7 ptssince 2009
from 33.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

49.7%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 44.7% in 2009
50.3%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 55.3% in 2009
2.3%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
11.3%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
8.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2012
from 9.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
4.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2013
from 3.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
93.0%
+15.8 ptssince 2017
from 77.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
94.6%
+2.7 ptssince 2020
from 91.9% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
88.2%
+1.7 ptssince 2020
from 86.5% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
97.1%
−1.5 ptssince 2016
from 98.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
0.3%
−0.9 ptssince 2016
from 1.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married28.6%(454)
Married61.8%(982)
Widowed1.1%(18)
Divorced8.4%(134)
Women 15+
Never married18.2%(274)
Married66.6%(1,001)
Widowed8.2%(124)
Divorced7%(105)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

4.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2013
from 3.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
66.9%
−4.0 ptssince 2020
from 70.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
20.6%
+7.8 ptssince 2020
from 12.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
17.6%
+1.3 ptssince 2020
from 16.3% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
12.4%
+2.9 ptssince 2020
from 9.5% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
4.2%
−0.9 ptssince 2020
from 5.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
81.0%
−2.5 ptssince 2020
from 83.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
29.8%
+2.8 ptssince 2020
from 27.0% 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)30.4%(99)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)7.1%(23)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era23%(75)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 326 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
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Dell Rapids, South Dakota?

Dell Rapids, South Dakota has about 3,905 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Dell Rapids, South Dakota?

The typical household in Dell Rapids, South Dakota earns about $100,170 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Dell Rapids, South Dakota expensive?

In Dell Rapids, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $301,700, and the typical rent is about $962 a month.

How educated are people in Dell Rapids, South Dakota?

About 38.9% of adults age 25 and over in Dell Rapids, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Dell Rapids, South Dakota?

About 9.4% of people in Dell Rapids, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Dell Rapids, South Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Dell Rapids, South Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,421 residents, a change of about 57 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 →