RANKING · 2025 ESTIMATES · 18 SHOWN OF 18

Most densely populated, South Dakota cities

South Dakota cities ranked by residents per square mile (2025). This list covers the 18 cities in South Dakota that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 18 is 1,503. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Harrisburg, SD, up 6 places to #3.

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South DakotaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

RELATEDLargest by population Fastest growing Fastest shrinking Most population gained Most population lost Most sparsely populated

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01▲1Sioux Falls, SDSD213,7482,586+72%

02▼1Vermillion, SDSD11,7202,514+20%

03▲6Harrisburg, SDSD10,4052,182+986%

04▲3Tea, SDSD8,0192,118+360%

05▼2Brandon, SDSD11,3061,976+99%

06▼2Yankton, SDSD15,8161,818+17%

07▼1Brookings, SDSD25,3551,817+37%

08▼3Aberdeen, SDSD27,9611,693+13%

09▼1Huron, SDSD14,6071,503+23%

10▲1Rapid City, SDSD80,5891,463+35%

11▼1Mitchell, SDSD15,7561,367+8%

12Madison, SDSD6,0651,314−7%

13▲1Watertown, SDSD23,7361,287+17%

14▲1Sturgis, SDSD6,9221,078+7%

15▲1Pierre, SDSD13,8481,0630%

16▲1Box Elder, SDSD13,936945+391%

17▲1Spearfish, SDSD14,154821+64%

18▲1Belle Fourche, SDSD5,791654+27%

SHOWING 1–18 OF 18

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU POPULATION ESTIMATES