City · South Dakota
Box Elder, South Dakota
Box Elder, city, mostly in Pennington County (62.8% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Meade County, South Dakota. Box Elder had 13,936 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 17.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 11,746 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 12,902 (±55). GEOID 4606620.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
13,936
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 11,746 · ACS 2020-2024: 12,902 ±55
Median household income
$73,008
±$8,659 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $75,081
Median home value
$302,100
±$24,800 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $257,400
Median gross rent
$1,491
±$138 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $946
Where is Box Elder and what county is it in?
Box Elder is a city mostly in Pennington County (62.8% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Meade County, South Dakota. It covers 14.8 square miles of land, 792 residents per square mile in 2020.
Box Elder is in the Rapid City, SD metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pennington County | 7,376 | 62.8% |
| Meade County | 4,370 | 37.2% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Box Elder, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 13,936 people lived in Box Elder on July 1, 2025, up 17.6% since 2020, faster than South Dakota (+5.5%). The 2020 Census counted 11,746 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 12,902 (±55).
| Measure | Box Elder | Pennington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 12,902 ±55 | 113,512 | +3,219 |
| Households | 4,679 ±668 | 46,370 | +1,436 |
| Average household size | 2.68 ±0.19 | 2.37 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,149 ±712 | 51,681 | +1,631 |
Box Elder's population since 2000
From 2,841 in 2000 to 13,936 in 2025: up 390.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Box Elder as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Box Elder?
The median resident of Box Elder is 28.8 years old; 26.9% are under 18 and 7.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 71.1%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 8.4%. 1.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Box Elder | Pennington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.8 ±2.2 | 40.1 | +3.4 |
| Under 18 years | 26.9% ±4.1 pts | 22.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 7.5% ±2.2 pts | 20.1% | – |
| Male | 49.4% ±5.3 pts | 51.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8.2% ±2.8 pts | 5.7% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 71.1% ±5.5 pts | 77.8% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.8% ±1.3 pts | 1.1% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.1% ±0.8 pts | 1.2% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 8.2% ±4.3 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 8.4% ±2.7 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.6% ±0.9 pts | 2.5% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.2% ±3.3 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 21.2% ±4.3 pts | 12.3% | – |
| With a disability | 13.8% ±3.0 pts | 15.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 10.0% ±3.6 pts | 10.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.4% ±3.0 pts | 94.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 28.0% ±4.9 pts | 34.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.0% ±2.5 pts | 12.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 78.8% ±7.9 pts | 83.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 10.0% ±5.6 pts | 4.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Box Elder earn?
Half of Box Elder's 4,679 households earn less than $73,008 a year (±$8,659), against $74,517 in Pennington County and $75,081 in South Dakota. In 2015-2019 it was $65,697 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 7.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Box Elder | Pennington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $73,008 ±$8,659 | $74,517 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $87,520 ±$8,826 | $99,289 | – |
| Per capita income | $33,308 ±$3,025 | $42,302 | +$6,682 |
| People below the poverty line | 7.5% ±3.2 pts | 11.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 10.2% ±6.3 pts | 15.2% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.0% ±2.5 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.7% ±1.2 pts | 95.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.3% ±3.1 pts | 90.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Box Elder?
Owners occupy 48.2% of Box Elder's occupied homes and renters 51.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $302,100 by its owner (±$24,800). The median renter pays $1,491 a month including utilities, and 33.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Box Elder | Pennington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $302,100 ±$24,800 | $302,200 | +$104,327 |
| Median gross rent | $1,491 ±$138 | $1,120 | +$271 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 33.6% ±8.9 pts | 33.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,942 ±$99 | $1,803 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 48.2% ±6.3 pts | 69.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 51.8% ±6.3 pts | 30.7% | – |
| Housing units | 5,149 ±712 | 51,681 | +1,631 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.7% ±2.7 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.0% ±5.1 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 41.5% ±5.7 pts | 62.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 16.1% ±4.7 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 5.0% ±2.1 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 29.6% ±5.2 pts | 12.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.8% ±0.9 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 1.3% ±1.0 pts | 5.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Box Elder building?
Builders took permits for 75 new housing units in Box Elder in 2025 (75 in single-family houses), 5.4 per 1,000 residents against 5.7 across South Dakota.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Box Elder work and get to work?
75.8% of Box Elder's workers drive alone and 6.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.1 minutes.
| Measure | Box Elder | Pennington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 78.1% ±4.3 pts | 64.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% ±3.9 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 75.8% ±11.0 pts | 77.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 12.8% ±3.7 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.8% ±1.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 2.0% ±7.8 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.9% ±2.9 pts | 9.6% | +4.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.1 min ±3.6 | 19.4 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Box Elder?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Box Elder, and 5 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $48,833 (Tract 118) to $66,836 (Tract 202).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 118Pennington County | 3,092 | $48,833 |
| Tract 202Meade County | 2,203 | $66,836 |
| Tract 109.08Pennington County | 7,883 | $89,667 |
| Tract 116.01Pennington County | 4,509 | $93,115 |
| Tract 205Meade County | 6,018 | $75,747 |
| Tract 114Pennington County | 8,347 | $59,886 |
| Tract 116.02Pennington County | 3,984 | $76,947 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Box Elder) · Census block assignment files
How does Box Elder compare with other places in South Dakota?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Box Elder is the 2,534th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 10th-most populous of 310 in South Dakota.
Box Elder ranks 38th of 82 places in South Dakota with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 10th | 310 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 5th | 73 |
| Residents per square mile | 54th | 84 |
| Median household income | 38th | 82 |
| Per capita income | 62nd | 83 |
| Median home value | 18th | 81 |
| Median gross rent | 1st | 72 |
| Poverty rate | 44th | 55 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42nd | 81 |
| Median age | 74th | 83 |
| Owner-occupied share | 78th | 84 |
| Work from home | 27th | 44 |
| Travel time to work | 23rd | 84 |
Box Elder's figures with every place in South Dakota (CSV)
Every place in South Dakota, sortable · Compare Box Elder with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Box Elder?
11 of the 57 figures for Box Elder on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Box Elder are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Box Elder.