United States › South Dakota › Lead CITY
Lead South Dakota · 3,064 residents (2025 est.) · 2.06 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Lead is home to 3,006 people in South Dakota. At a median age of 46.5, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. 1% of residents were born outside the United States. Home values have more than tripled since 2000, reaching $189,400. Median rent is $835 a month.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 46.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 139%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 3,027 in 2000
3,064 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,461 / sq mi
+5%since 2009
from 1,395 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 37.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
3K 3K 3K 3K 4K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Lead Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $73,047
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,485 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $15,726 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 12.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.320 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 1.1%
Professional, scientific, technical 0.5%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.5%
Education & health services 0.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.1%
Transportation & warehousing 0%
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$189,400
+139%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$835
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $429 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 68.4% in 2000
29.7% rent
from 18.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.31 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 25.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.2 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 94%(2,845)
Hispanic / Latino 2.7%(82)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 91.8%(2,761)
Hispanic / Latino 2.4%(71)
from 3 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
+ 4 more ancestry groups with data from 15.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 83.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 5.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 87.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 1.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 67.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 76.1% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 20.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 11.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 18.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 76.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 74.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 86.5% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 94.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 2.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 18.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 42.7% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 18.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 30.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 12.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 5.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 59.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 43.1% 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) 3.9%(9)
Gulf War (1990s) 26.1%(60)
Share of the 230 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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Frequently asked
How many people live in Lead, South Dakota? Lead, South Dakota has about 3,006 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Lead, South Dakota? The typical household in Lead, South Dakota earns about $73,047 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Lead, South Dakota expensive? In Lead, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $189,400, and the typical rent is about $835 a month.
How educated are people in Lead, South Dakota? About 20.5% of adults age 25 and over in Lead, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Lead, South Dakota? About 7.5% of people in Lead, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.
Has Lead, South Dakota grown since 1990? Yes, Lead, South Dakota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 626 residents, a change of about -17 percent over that period.
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