City profile · South Dakota · Census ACS 2023

Lake Preston, SD

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

539
Residents
$60,917
Median income
$139,100
Median home
$951
Median rent (state)

Lake Preston - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Lake Preston places in the 37th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

37th
percentile, household income
24th
percentile, home value
10th
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: Lake Preston, SD

Lake Preston is a small town in South Dakota, home to 539 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Lake Preston households earn a median of $60,917 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.6%. Home values in Lake Preston run a median of $139,100, and the median resident age is 50.0 years. Educational attainment runs 13.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 52.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 1 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier.

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 $951 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $200 across South Dakota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 7.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

539 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Dakota

Median Household Income

$60,917 /yr

Poverty 7.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.6 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Dakota average

How does Lake Preston compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 37% higher than other cities
Home value 24% pricier than other cities
Median rent 10% 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 Lake Preston 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

Bachelor's Degree or Higher sits close to the middle of South Dakota's city distribution

Among the 303 South Dakota cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Lake Preston ranks #220 - the 27th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Lake Preston only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#151 of 285
47th percentile in South Dakota
Median Gross Rent
#115 of 303
61st percentile in South Dakota
Median Home Value
#112 of 263
57th percentile in South Dakota
Poverty Rate
#125 of 302
58th percentile in South Dakota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#220 of 303
27th 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.

37thIncome percentile

37th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Lake Preston's home value compares nationally

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

$139,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 76% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Lake Preston $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 - Lake Preston, SD Lake Preston, SD's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lake Preston, 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 Lake Preston, SD median $60,917/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%
Lake Preston, 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 Lake Preston, SD. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 13.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 52.8%

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

Population
539
Median Income
$60,917
Median Home Value
$139,100
Median Age
50.0
Poverty Rate
7.6%
Labor force participation
52.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
13.6%

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 →
580 residents590 residents600 residents610 residents620 residents 202020212022202320242025 587 residents 605 residents ▲ +3.1%
Lake Preston's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 1
2021 9
2022 8
2023 1
2024 1

Permit volume increased 0% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.7%
Carpool
9.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.8%
Work from Home
6.9%
Other
0.8%

Based on 246 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 Lake Preston sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.6
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$951/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
7.9 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Dakota

New Underwood
538 people
Herreid
549 people
Porcupine
549 people
Irene
521 people
Tripp
563 people
Montrose
514 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lake Preston's 539 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Whigham, GA
539 people
Equality, IL
539 people
Troy, IN
539 people
Melbourne, KY
539 people
Standing Pine, MS
539 people
Jacksonville, NY
539 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lake Preston's $60,917 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Marion, OR
$60,921 median income
Kayenta, AZ
$60,925 median income
Weeki Wachee Gardens, FL
$60,909 median income
Kendallville, IN
$60,909 median income
Springwater, NY
$60,909 median income
St. Clair, PA
$60,908 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lake Preston, 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 Lake Preston, SD - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 81.8% 16.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 11.1% White 81.8% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.4% American Indian 1.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 16.1% 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 Lake Preston 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
Lake Preston (this city) 539 $60,917
New Underwood 538 $54,167
Herreid 549 $68,611
Porcupine 549 $20,256
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SD NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lake Preston, SD?

What is the population of Lake Preston, SD? +

Lake Preston, SD has a population of 539 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Lake Preston, SD? +

Median annual household income in Lake Preston runs $60,917, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lake Preston? +

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

Homes in Lake Preston carry a median value of $139,100, 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.