City profile · South Dakota · Census ACS 2023

Fort Thompson, SD

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Fort Thompson - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,134
Residents
$45,313
Median income
$110,300
Median home
$1,204
Median rent (state)

Fort Thompson - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Fort Thompson places in the 13th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

13th
percentile, household income
13th
percentile, home value
36th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Fort Thompson, SD

1,134 people live in Fort Thompson, South Dakota - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Fort Thompson brings in $45,313 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 36.6%. Home values in Fort Thompson run a median of $110,300, and the median resident age is 29.6 years. 4.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 43.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in South Dakota run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, South Dakota scores 88.6 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,204 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts South Dakota's average monthly utility costs around $200 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 13.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

1,134 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Dakota

Median Household Income

$45,313 /yr

Poverty 36.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.6 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Dakota average

How does Fort Thompson compare to other US cities?

Fort Thompson measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 13% higher than other cities
Home value 13% pricier than other cities
Median rent 36% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Fort Thompson's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in South Dakota, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

13thIncome percentile

13th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Fort Thompson's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$110,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 87% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Fort Thompson $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Fort Thompson, SD Fort Thompson, SD's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Fort Thompson, SD-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Fort Thompson, SD median $45,313/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Fort Thompson, SD's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Fort Thompson, SD. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 4.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 36.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 43.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,134
Median Income
$45,313
Median Home Value
$110,300
Median Age
29.6
Poverty Rate
36.6%
Labor force participation
43.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
4.3%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
84.1%
Carpool
2.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
6.2%
Work from Home
3.8%
Other
3.2%

Based on 370 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for South Dakota - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$65
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$200
estimated/month

Estimates reflect South Dakota state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a South Dakota state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Fort Thompson sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.6
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,204/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
13.7 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Dakota

Ashland Heights
1,142 people
Ipswich
1,126 people
Britton
1,117 people
Garretson
1,166 people
Clark
1,181 people
Worthing
1,087 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Fort Thompson's 1,134 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Claypool, AZ
1,134 people
Baconton, GA
1,134 people
Rutledge, GA
1,134 people
Fairfax, MN
1,134 people
Fayetteville, AL
1,135 people
Ak-Chin, AZ
1,133 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Fort Thompson's $45,313 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Cameron, AZ
$45,313 median income
Ben Lomond, AR
$45,313 median income
Meansville, GA
$45,313 median income
Velda Village Hills, MO
$45,313 median income
Crooksville, OH
$45,313 median income
Irvona, PA
$45,313 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Fort Thompson, SD Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Fort Thompson, SD - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.8% White 3.8% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 94.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 1.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Fort Thompson compares to nearby South Dakota cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Fort Thompson (this city) 1,134 $45,313
Ashland Heights 1,142 $61,538
Ipswich 1,126 $79,135
Britton 1,117 $70,156
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Fort Thompson, SD?

What is the population of Fort Thompson, SD? +

Fort Thompson, SD has a population of 1,134 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Fort Thompson, SD? +

Fort Thompson households earn a median of $45,313 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Fort Thompson? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Fort Thompson; the closest available measure is the South Dakota state average, a cost of living index of 88.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within South Dakota vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Fort Thompson, SD? +

A typical home in Fort Thompson is worth $110,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.