City profile · South Dakota · Census ACS 2023

Hot Springs, SD

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

3,506
Residents
$49,688
Median income
$168,200
Median home
$1,152
Median rent (state)

Hot Springs - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Hot Springs places in the 19th percentile for household income and the 95th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

19th
percentile, household income
33rd
percentile, home value
32nd
percentile, median rent
95th
percentile, safety
📝 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: Hot Springs, SD

Hot Springs is a small town in South Dakota, home to 3,506 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Hot Springs households earn a median of $49,688 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 26.2%. Typical homes in Hot Springs are valued around $168,200, and the median resident age is 59.3 years. 18.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 46.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 9 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Slowing), down 10% from five years earlier. Hot Springs reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 217.0 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Hot Springs's yearly average temperature at 48.6°F with 18.6 inches of precipitation per year and 32.0 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in South Dakota run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts South Dakota at 88.6 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,152 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in South Dakota run around $200, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 30.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

3,506 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Dakota

Median Household Income

$49,688 /yr

Poverty 26.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.6 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Dakota average

How does Hot Springs compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 19% higher than other cities
Home value 33% pricier than other cities
Median rent 32% pricier than other cities
Safety 95% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at South Dakota, Hot Springs ranks #4 of 34 South Dakota cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Hot Springs 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

Poverty Rate places Hot Springs toward the top of South Dakota's cities

Among the 302 South Dakota cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Hot Springs ranks #43 - the 86th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Hot Springs only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#222 of 285
22nd percentile in South Dakota
Median Gross Rent
#63 of 303
78th percentile in South Dakota
Median Home Value
#87 of 263
67th percentile in South Dakota
Poverty Rate
#43 of 302
86th percentile in South Dakota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#172 of 303
42nd 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.

19thIncome percentile
95thSafety percentile

19th percentile nationally for median household income · 95th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Hot Springs's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Hot Springs's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 61 Avg. percentile National median
Hot Springs's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Hot Springs's home value compares nationally

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

$168,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 67% 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. Hot Springs $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 - Hot Springs, SD Hot Springs, SD's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Hot Springs, 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 Hot Springs, SD median $49,688/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%
Hot Springs, 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 Hot Springs, SD. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 26.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 46.0%

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

Population
3,506
Median Income
$49,688
Median Home Value
$168,200
Median Age
59.3
Poverty Rate
26.2%
Labor force participation
46.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
217.0
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
189.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
27.1
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
48.6°F
Annual Precipitation
18.6"
Annual Snowfall
32.0"

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 →
3,300 residents3,400 residents3,500 residents3,600 residents3,700 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,396 residents 3,670 residents ▲ +8.1%
Hot Springs's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
9
housing units authorized
Single-Family
9
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 10
2020 11
2021 13
2022 10
2023 10
2024 9

Permit volume decreased 10% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.3%
Carpool
0.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
7.0%
Work from Home
9.0%
Other
3.4%

Based on 1,309 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 Hot Springs sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.6
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,152/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
30.9 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Dakota

Milbank
3,513 people
Hartford
3,412 people
Dell Rapids
3,947 people
Canton
3,060 people
North Sioux City
3,018 people
Lead
2,997 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Hot Springs's 3,506 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Buckhorn, CA
3,506 people
Holden Lakes, FL
3,506 people
Riverton, IL
3,506 people
Elroy, NC
3,507 people
Laureles, TX
3,505 people
Durham, CT
3,508 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Hot Springs's $49,688 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Mount Olive CDP (Coosa County), AL
$49,688 median income
Tidmore Bend, AL
$49,688 median income
Kearny, AZ
$49,688 median income
Roosevelt Estates, AZ
$49,688 median income
Register, GA
$49,688 median income
What Cheer, IA
$49,688 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Hot Springs, 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 Hot Springs, SD - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 81.3% 12.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.2% White 81.3% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 1.1% American Indian 12.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 4.4% 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 Hot Springs 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
Hot Springs (this city) 3,506 $49,688
Milbank 3,513 $58,462
Hartford 3,412 $95,426
Dell Rapids 3,947 $101,250
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SD FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Hot Springs, SD?

What is the population of Hot Springs, SD? +

3,506 people live in Hot Springs, SD according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Hot Springs, SD? +

Hot Springs households earn a median of $49,688 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Hot Springs? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Hot Springs; 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.

Is Hot Springs, SD safe? +

Hot Springs has a total crime rate of 217.0 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Hot Springs, SD? +

The median home value in Hot Springs is $168,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Hot Springs? +

The average annual temperature in Hot Springs runs 48.6°F, 18.6 inches of precipitation, and 32.0 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, 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.