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CITY · 2020 ACS

Wolsey

South Dakota · 459 residents · 2.27 sq mi
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The short version

Wolsey is home to 459 people in South Dakota. 81% of homes are owner-occupied. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 17% of adults. The typical home is worth $79,600, having more than doubled since 2000. This skews young, with a median age of 33.4. The foreign-born share is 2%.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 33.4
US median: 38.8
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 47%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

459
+10%since 2000
from 418 in 2000
1990 – 2025
33.4
−22%since 2000
from 42.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
2.27 sq mi
Population, 19902024
20535250064779419902000201020202024Wolsey
2024692
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 58.1%(37)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.6%(35)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 1411.1%(51)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 199.2%(42)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.5%(30)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 348.9%(41)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4413.5%(62)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5410%(46)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6410.9%(50)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 749.2%(42)
US avg: 10%
75 to 842.2%(10)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.8%(13)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$44,875
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,313 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$23,147
+62%since 2000
from $14,319 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
32.8%
+14.9 ptssince 2009
from 17.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
5.5%
−3.8 ptssince 2000
from 9.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information13.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing10.5%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction9.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade9.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Retail trade4.1%
US avg: 10%
Other services3.1%
US avg: 6.6%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration1%
US avg: 4.7%
Manufacturing0.7%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$79,600
+47%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$581
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $456 in 2000
US average: $1,124
81.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2000
from 81.6% in 2000
18.6% rent
2.68 people
+48%since 2009
from 1.81 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
1.8
+74%since 2009
from 1.0 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.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic99%(414)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(2)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic89.5%(411)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino6.1%(28)
Asian0%(0)
Other0.3%(1)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican17.7%(113)
Guatemalan1.6%(10)
Ancestry
German47%(300)
Norwegian13.5%(86)
Dutch6.6%(42)
English6.6%(42)
Irish5.8%(37)
French3.1%(20)
Swedish2.7%(17)
Scottish1.7%(11)
American1.6%(10)
Finnish1.1%(7)
Russian1.1%(7)
Italian0.9%(6)
+ 6 more ancestry groups with data
Czech0.5%(3)
Armenian0.3%(2)
Polish0.3%(2)
Belgian0.2%(1)
Danish0.2%(1)
Section 05

Education

17.1%
+6.0 ptssince 2000
from 11.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
82.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 82.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
5.8%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 0.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

17.6 min
+75%since 2000
from 10.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
83.2%
+8.9 ptssince 2009
from 74.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
5.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

1.7%
−2.1 ptssince 2011
from 3.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
62.8%
−9.7 ptssince 2011
from 72.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
73.9%
US average: 73.3%
29.9%
+7.9 ptssince 2009
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

43.6%
−8.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
56.4%
+8.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
1.7%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
6.3%
−10.8 ptssince 2013
from 17.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
79.0%
US average: 91.9%
94.3%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married30.1%(84)
Married53.4%(149)
Widowed1.8%(5)
Divorced14.7%(41)
Women 15+
Never married30.3%(71)
Married51.3%(120)
Widowed6.4%(15)
Divorced12%(28)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

6.3%
−10.8 ptssince 2013
from 17.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
56.4%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
17.9%
US average: 13.7%
18.7%
US average: 17.6%
16.6%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
1.1%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
71.8%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
32.0%
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)27.3%(6)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)13.6%(3)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era31.8%(7)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 22 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 Wolsey, South Dakota?

Wolsey, South Dakota has about 459 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Wolsey, South Dakota?

The typical household in Wolsey, South Dakota earns about $44,875 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wolsey, South Dakota expensive?

In Wolsey, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $79,600, and the typical rent is about $581 a month.

How educated are people in Wolsey, South Dakota?

About 17.1% of adults age 25 and over in Wolsey, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Wolsey, South Dakota?

About 5.5% of people in Wolsey, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wolsey, South Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Wolsey, South Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 13 residents, a change of about 3 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 →