City · South Dakota
Garretson, South Dakota
Garretson, city, in Minnehaha County, South Dakota. Garretson had 1,174 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,228 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,176 (±236). GEOID 4623820.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,174
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,228 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,176 ±236
Median household income
$59,741
±$11,054 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $75,081
Median home value
$203,800
±$29,674 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $257,400
Median gross rent
$697
±$43 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $946
Where is Garretson and what county is it in?
Garretson is a city in Minnehaha County, South Dakota. It covers 1.5 square miles of land, 843 residents per square mile in 2020.
Garretson is in the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 5 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Garretson, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,174 people lived in Garretson on July 1, 2025, down 4.0% since 2020, while South Dakota grew 5.5%. The 2020 Census counted 1,228 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,176 (±236).
| Measure | Garretson | Minnehaha County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,176 ±236 | 203,289 | no clear change |
| Households | 568 ±109 | 84,814 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 1.98 ±0.35 | 2.33 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 600 ±110 | 89,418 | no clear change |
Garretson's population since 2000
From 1,165 in 2000 to 1,174 in 2025: up 0.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Garretson 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 Garretson?
The median resident of Garretson is 48.5 years old; 21.0% are under 18 and 23.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 84.6%, then non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native residents at 12.1%.
| Measure | Garretson | Minnehaha County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.5 ±8.0 | 36.0 | +11.2 |
| Under 18 years | 21.0% ±10.9 pts | 25.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 23.6% ±8.1 pts | 13.9% | – |
| Male | 44.0% ±4.6 pts | 51.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.7% ±0.7 pts | 6.6% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 84.6% ±13.6 pts | 78.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±1.5 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.1 pts | 1.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 12.1% ±14.2 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.4% ±2.2 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.5% ±0.5 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 0.8% ±1.8 pts | 10.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.5% ±3.3 pts | 6.7% | – |
| With a disability | 19.0% ±8.6 pts | 10.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 1.6% ±1.4 pts | 8.2% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.8% ±5.2 pts | 92.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 28.2% ±7.7 pts | 35.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.0% ±2.7 pts | 10.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 92.2% ±3.3 pts | 86.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.6% ±1.2 pts | 2.7% | – |
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 Garretson earn?
Half of Garretson's 568 households earn less than $59,741 a year (±$11,054), against $76,880 in Minnehaha County and $75,081 in South Dakota. In 2015-2019 the median was $81,072 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $21,331 after inflation. 5.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Garretson | Minnehaha County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $59,741 ±$11,054 | $76,880 | −$21,331 |
| Mean household income | $76,284 ±$8,188 | $102,921 | – |
| Per capita income | $37,143 ±$6,588 | $43,062 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 5.3% ±2.5 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 2.5% ±3.4 pts | 10.3% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 8.5% ±5.3 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 93.7% ±4.4 pts | 96.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.0% ±6.8 pts | 92.6% | – |
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 Garretson?
Owners occupy 62.7% of Garretson's occupied homes and renters 37.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $203,800 by its owner (±$29,674). The median renter pays $697 a month including utilities, and 22.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Garretson | Minnehaha County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $203,800 ±$29,674 | $287,600 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $697 ±$43 | $978 | −$192 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 22.1% ±13.5 pts | 32.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,449 ±$115 | $1,727 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 62.7% ±11.2 pts | 63.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 37.3% ±11.2 pts | 36.9% | – |
| Housing units | 600 ±110 | 89,418 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±6.8 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 9.8% ±8.0 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 58.8% ±10.6 pts | 58.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 8.0% ±4.7 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5% ±0.7 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.7% ±2.3 pts | 15.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 20.7% ±6.0 pts | 10.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 0.5% ±0.9 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 Garretson building?
Builders took permits for 4 new housing units in Garretson in 2025 (4 in single-family houses), 3.4 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 Garretson work and get to work?
85.4% of Garretson's workers drive alone and 8.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 25.9 minutes.
| Measure | Garretson | Minnehaha County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 61.1% ±7.1 pts | 74.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.4% ±7.1 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 85.4% ±4.8 pts | 77.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.6% ±3.1 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±4.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 0.7% ±0.8 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.5% ±3.8 pts | 11.1% | +6.1 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.9 min ±4.2 | 17.8 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 Garretson?
No census tract lies mostly in Garretson; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 101.01Minnehaha County | 4,722 | $93,981 |
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 Garretson) · Census block assignment files
How does Garretson compare with other places in South Dakota?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Garretson is the 9,679th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 59th-most populous of 310 in South Dakota.
Garretson ranks 59th 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 | 59th | 310 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 67th | 73 |
| Residents per square mile | 52nd | 84 |
| Median household income | 59th | 82 |
| Per capita income | 50th | 83 |
| Median home value | 47th | 81 |
| Median gross rent | 60th | 72 |
| Poverty rate | 51st | 55 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40th | 81 |
| Median age | 11th | 83 |
| Owner-occupied share | 60th | 84 |
| Work from home | 19th | 44 |
| Travel time to work | 3rd | 84 |
Garretson's figures with every place in South Dakota (CSV)
Every place in South Dakota, sortable · Compare Garretson 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 Garretson?
20 of the 57 figures for Garretson 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 Garretson 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 Garretson.