City profile · South Dakota · Census ACS 2023

Freeman, SD

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

1,558
Residents
$60,114
Median income
$171,300
Median home
$1,156
Median rent (state)

Freeman - the verdict

Nationally, Freeman sits in the 35th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

35th
percentile, household income
34th
percentile, home value
33rd
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: Freeman, SD

1,558 people live in Freeman, South Dakota - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Freeman brings in $60,114 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 8.8%. Typical homes in Freeman are valued around $171,300, and the median resident age is 41.2 years. Educational attainment runs 19.5% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 63.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 1 residential building permits were authorized in Freeman (Low Activity), per Census BPS data.

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. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,156 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in South Dakota run around $200, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 24.0 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

1,558 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Dakota

Median Household Income

$60,114 /yr

Poverty 8.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.6 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Dakota average

How does Freeman compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 35% higher than other cities
Home value 34% pricier than other cities
Median rent 33% 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 Freeman'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.

35thIncome percentile

35th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Freeman's home value compares nationally

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

$171,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 66% 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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Freeman $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 - Freeman, SD Freeman, SD's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Freeman, 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 Freeman, SD median $60,114/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%
Freeman, 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 Freeman, SD. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.0%

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

Population
1,558
Median Income
$60,114
Median Home Value
$171,300
Median Age
41.2
Poverty Rate
8.8%
Labor force participation
63.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.5%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,300 residents1,310 residents1,320 residents1,330 residents1,340 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,330 residents 1,305 residents ▼ -1.9%
Freeman's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 4
2022 0
2023 1
2024 1

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
76.9%
Carpool
6.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
10.9%
Work from Home
3.7%
Other
2.3%

Based on 697 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 Freeman sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.6
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,156/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
24.0 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Dakota

Wagner
1,555 people
Oglala
1,601 people
Baltic
1,512 people
Green Valley
1,503 people
Kyle
1,495 people
Eagle Butte
1,492 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Freeman's 1,558 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Midway CDP (Seminole County), FL
1,558 people
Elk Rapids, MI
1,558 people
Stewartville, AL
1,557 people
Sylvan Springs, AL
1,559 people
Del Rio, CA
1,557 people
Leona Valley, CA
1,559 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Freeman's $60,114 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Elgin, IA
$60,114 median income
Hebron, ND
$60,114 median income
Minco, OK
$60,114 median income
Swissvale, PA
$60,114 median income
Rural Retreat, VA
$60,114 median income
Milmay, NJ
$60,110 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Freeman, 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 Freeman, SD - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 79.4% 15.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.8% White 79.4% Black or African American 0.3% Asian 0.7% American Indian 1.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.0% Two or more races 15.2% 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 Freeman 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
Freeman (this city) 1,558 $60,114
Wagner 1,555 $47,137
Oglala 1,601 $43,274
Baltic 1,512 $105,132
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SD NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Freeman, SD?

What is the population of Freeman, SD? +

1,558 people live in Freeman, SD according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Freeman, SD? +

In Freeman, the typical household earns $60,114 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Freeman? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Freeman; 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 Freeman, SD? +

The median home value in Freeman is $171,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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.