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CITY

Yankton

South Dakota · 15,816 residents (2025 est.) · 8.70 sq mi
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Part of the Yankton micropolitan area
The short version

With 15,540 people, Yankton is a city in South Dakota. The average commute runs 13 minutes. The foreign-born share is 3%. Home values have roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $222,700. Median rent is $790 a month. There are 1,787 people per square mile.

At a glance
Lower income
median household income $67,804, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.4
US median: 38.9
Average education
33% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 63%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Yankton

What changed most since 1990

  • White share96.4% → 84.8% (−11.6 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts

Among the 7 cities and towns in the Yankton area

  • 4th in household income$67,804
  • 2nd in share with a bachelor's degree33.2%
  • 1st in home value$222,700
  • 3rd in diversity score34.0

Its weight in Yankton County

Yankton's population equals 66% of Yankton County's. Its number of households without a car equals 97% of the county's.

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
15,540
+15%since 2000
from 13,528 in 2000
15,816 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,787 / sq mi
+15%since 2000
from 1,555 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
41.4
+10%since 2000
from 37.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
8.70 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
12K13K14K15K16K19902000201020202024Yankton
202416K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.9%(922)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.5%(699)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.6%(1,033)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.7%(1,037)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 247.9%(1,222)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.5%(1,792)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.6%(1,800)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.2%(1,734)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412.1%(1,875)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.1%(1,875)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.8%(1,215)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.2%(336)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$67,804
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,843 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$41,073
+129%since 2000
from $17,954 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.4%
+25.2 ptssince 2009
from 21.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.1%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 10.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.460
−4%since 2010
from 0.481 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information15.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade5.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4%
US avg: 1.6%
Other services3.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance3.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Manufacturing2.3%
US avg: 0.4%
Professional, scientific, technical2%
US avg: 5.1%
Construction1.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$222,700
+63%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $75,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$790
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $388 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
66.3%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 61.9% in 2000
33.7% rent
Vacancy rate
7.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.14 people
+4%since 2009
from 2.06 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
15.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 15.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
34.5%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 38.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.3
+28%since 2009
from 2.6 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
58
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.9%(12,566)
Black1.6%(218)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(333)
Asian0.5%(65)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic84.8%(13,183)
Black2.2%(347)
Hispanic / Latino6.5%(1,010)
Asian0.4%(64)
Other6%(936)
Diversity Score
34
+49%since 2009
from 23 in 2009
1990 – 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
Mexican3.3%(514)
Cuban1.5%(236)
Puerto Rican0.3%(54)
Spaniard0.2%(35)
Panamanian0.1%(15)
Guatemalan0.1%(9)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.1%(13)
Chinese0.1%(11)
Filipino0.1%(10)
Korean0.1%(8)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German36.5%(5,678)
Irish9.8%(1,529)
Norwegian8.7%(1,349)
English7.3%(1,140)
Czech4.9%(758)
French2.7%(419)
American2.7%(415)
Dutch2%(313)
Danish1.9%(300)
Polish1.8%(287)
Swedish1.5%(239)
Italian1.4%(211)
+ 21 more ancestry groups with data
Scottish1.1%(166)
Russian0.9%(141)
West Indian0.7%(102)
Haitian0.6%(100)
Arab0.4%(65)
Moroccan0.4%(65)
Welsh0.2%(32)
Greek0.2%(26)
Slovak0.2%(25)
Swiss0.1%(23)
Austrian0.1%(18)
Finnish0.1%(18)
Belgian0.1%(13)
British0.1%(13)
Lithuanian0.1%(10)
Scotch-Irish0.1%(10)
Slovene0%(6)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
33.2%
+9.1 ptssince 2000
from 24.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.9%
+8.0 ptssince 2000
from 86.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.5%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 7.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.3 min
+26%since 2000
from 10.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.0%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 80.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.7%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.5%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.3%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.0%
−2.1 ptssince 2011
from 4.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.4%
−1.7 ptssince 2011
from 63.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
80.4%
+2.0 ptssince 2020
from 78.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
16.6%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.2%
+7.5 ptssince 2009
from 29.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.1%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Female
49.9%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Foreign born
3.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.5%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.8%
+1.1 ptssince 2012
from 14.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.1%
−4.0 ptssince 2013
from 10.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.8%
+12.0 ptssince 2017
from 73.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
92.9%
+4.3 ptssince 2020
from 88.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
83.3%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 83.2% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
94.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 93.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.1%
+1.0 ptssince 2016
from 3.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married40.7%(2,634)
Married45.3%(2,930)
Widowed2.3%(148)
Divorced11.8%(763)
Women 15+
Never married33.1%(2,123)
Married41.2%(2,643)
Widowed13.6%(869)
Divorced12.1%(776)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
6.1%
−4.0 ptssince 2013
from 10.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
56.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
from 57.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
22.0%
+4.3 ptssince 2020
from 17.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
23.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2020
from 23.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
16.7%
+3.7 ptssince 2020
from 13.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
4.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2020
from 4.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
78.7%
+4.9 ptssince 2020
from 73.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
38.2%
+3.4 ptssince 2020
from 34.8% 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)20.7%(216)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)19.7%(206)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era50%(523)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.2%(23)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 1,045 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
Over time

Yankton, decade by decade

Yankton population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
199012,703$51,227$120,24320.5%8.7
200013,528$58,007$136,98824.0%17.0
201014,454$61,795$167,88129.1%22.1
202015,411$65,787$187,86629.1%34.6
202415,540$67,804$222,70033.2%34.0

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Yankton

Myrtle Grove
Pop 15,595
Lockhart
Pop 15,371
Azalea Park
Pop 16,180
East Milton
Pop 14,783
Places similar to Yankton
Head to head

Compare Yankton to nearby cities

YANKTON VS
Vermillion
Income$50,456−26%
Home value$219,000−2%
Population11,720−26%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
YANKTON VS
Tea
Income$120,139+77%
Home value$351,100+58%
Population8,019−49%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
YANKTON VS
Harrisburg
Income$108,724+60%
Home value$312,200+40%
Population10,405−34%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
YANKTON VS
Sioux Falls
Income$75,970+12%
Home value$292,400+31%
Population213,748+1251%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Yankton, South Dakota?

Yankton, South Dakota has about 15,540 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Yankton, South Dakota earns about $67,804 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Yankton, South Dakota expensive?

In Yankton, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $222,700, and the typical rent is about $790 a month.

How educated are people in Yankton, South Dakota?

About 33.2% of adults age 25 and over in Yankton, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Yankton, South Dakota?

About 14.1% of people in Yankton, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Yankton, South Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Yankton, South Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,837 residents, a change of about 22 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 →