City profile · South Dakota · Census ACS 2023

Garretson, SD

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

1,166
Residents
$66,375
Median income
$197,400
Median home
$1,156
Median rent (state)

Garretson - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Garretson lands in the 45th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

45th
percentile, household income
42nd
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: Garretson, SD

Garretson is a small town in South Dakota, home to 1,166 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $66,375 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 1.1%. Home values in Garretson run a median of $197,400, and the median resident age is 47.9 years. About 24.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 60.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 4 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Low Activity).

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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,156 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $200 across South Dakota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 89.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

1,166 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Dakota

Median Household Income

$66,375 /yr

Poverty 1.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.6 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Dakota average

How does Garretson compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 45% higher than other cities
Home value 42% 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

Each percentile compares Garretson against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to South Dakota only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

South Dakota-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Garretson toward the top of South Dakota's cities

Among the 303 South Dakota cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Garretson ranks #20 - the 82nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Garretson only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#113 of 285
60th percentile in South Dakota
Median Gross Rent
#20 of 303
82nd percentile in South Dakota
Median Home Value
#66 of 263
75th percentile in South Dakota
Poverty Rate
#243 of 302
19th percentile in South Dakota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#101 of 303
66th percentile in South Dakota

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within South Dakota only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

45thIncome percentile

45th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Garretson's home value compares nationally

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

$197,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 58% 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%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Garretson $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 - Garretson, SD Garretson, SD's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Garretson, 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 Garretson, SD median $66,375/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%
Garretson, 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 Garretson, SD. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 24.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.0%

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

Population
1,166
Median Income
$66,375
Median Home Value
$197,400
Median Age
47.9
Poverty Rate
1.1%
Labor force participation
60.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
24.6%

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 →
1,160 residents1,180 residents1,200 residents1,220 residents1,240 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,221 residents 1,174 residents ▼ -3.8%
Garretson's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
4
housing units authorized
Single-Family
4
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 7
2023 3
2024 4

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
86.6%
Carpool
2.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.2%
Work from Home
9.5%
Other
0.6%

Based on 569 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 Garretson 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
89.5 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Dakota

Clark
1,181 people
Ashland Heights
1,142 people
Fort Thompson
1,134 people
Salem
1,201 people
Ipswich
1,126 people
Tyndall
1,206 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Garretson's 1,166 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Kotlik, AK
1,166 people
Fort Gaines, GA
1,166 people
Deans, NJ
1,166 people
Rock Springs, NM
1,166 people
Columbus, NC
1,166 people
Mount Gilead, NC
1,166 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Garretson's $66,375 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Langleyville, IL
$66,375 median income
Wykoff, MN
$66,375 median income
Ingram, PA
$66,375 median income
Shadybrook, TX
$66,373 median income
Laurel, MT
$66,382 median income
Elwood, KS
$66,364 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Garretson, 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 Garretson, SD - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 85.2% 12.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.5% White 85.2% Black or African American 0.3% Asian 0.0% American Indian 12.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.3% Two or more races 1.6% 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 Garretson 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
Garretson (this city) 1,166 $66,375
Clark 1,181 $49,464
Ashland Heights 1,142 $61,538
Fort Thompson 1,134 $45,313
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SD NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Garretson, SD?

What is the population of Garretson, SD? +

Garretson, SD counts 1,166 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Garretson, the typical household earns $66,375 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Garretson? +

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

Garretson's median home value sits at $197,400, 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

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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.