United States › South Dakota › Lead CITY · 2020 ACS
Lead South Dakota · 2,982 residents · 2.06 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 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Lead is a city of 2,982 people in South Dakota. The foreign-born share is 1%. The average commute runs 15 minutes. That trails the South Dakota median by roughly 26%. At a median age of 42.1, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Home values have more than tripled since 2000, reaching $157,900.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.1
US median: 38.8
Less educated
26% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 142%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 37.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
3K 3K 3K 3K 4K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Lead Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $44,278
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,485 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $15,726 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 12.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 5.5%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.1%
Education & health services 1.1%
Professional, scientific, technical 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing 0%
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$157,900
+142%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$721
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $429 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 68.4% in 2000
38.8% rent
1.90 people
−18%since 2009
from 2.31 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 94%(2,845)
Hispanic / Latino 2.7%(82)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 86.8%(2,589)
Hispanic / Latino 4.8%(143)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 5 more ancestry groups with data from 15.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 83.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 5.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 87.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 1.5% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 67.9% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 18.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 18.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 16.2%(44)
Gulf War (1990s) 41.3%(112)
Share of the 271 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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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Lead, South Dakota? Lead, South Dakota has about 2,982 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Lead, South Dakota? The typical household in Lead, South Dakota earns about $44,278 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 $157,900, and the typical rent is about $721 a month.
How educated are people in Lead, South Dakota? About 25.8% 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 17.1% 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 650 residents, a change of about -18 percent over that period.
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