City profile · South Dakota · Census ACS 2023

Mitchell, SD

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

15,637
Residents
$56,374
Median income
$182,000
Median home
$936
Median rent (state)

Mitchell - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Mitchell places in the 29th percentile for household income and the 27th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

29th
percentile, household income
37th
percentile, home value
9th
percentile, median rent
27th
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: Mitchell, SD

South Dakota's Mitchell is a small town, with 15,637 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Mitchell brings in $56,374 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.8%. Mitchell's housing stock carries a median value of $182,000, and the median resident age is 39.8 years. About 25.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 66.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 43 residential building permits were authorized in Mitchell (Rapid Growth), up 34% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 2229.8 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, near the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 47.9°F with 25.8 inches of precipitation per year and 40.6 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 $936 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts South Dakota's average monthly utility costs around $200 (state average). Commute times here average 11.0 minutes, with 77.3% driving alone and 8.5% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 39.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

15,637 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Dakota

Median Household Income

$56,374 /yr

Poverty 6.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.6 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Dakota average

How does Mitchell compare to other US cities?

Here's how Mitchell stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 29% higher than other cities
Home value 37% pricier than other cities
Median rent 9% pricier than other cities
Safety 27% safer than other cities

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

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to South Dakota alone, Mitchell ranks #27 of 34 South Dakota cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

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 Mitchell'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.

29thIncome percentile
27thSafety percentile

29th percentile nationally for median household income · 27th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Mitchell's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Mitchell'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 44 Avg. percentile National median
Mitchell'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 Mitchell's home value compares nationally

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

$182,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 63% 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. Mitchell $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 - Mitchell, SD Mitchell, SD's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Mitchell, 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 Mitchell, SD median $56,374/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%
Mitchell, 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 Mitchell, SD. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 25.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 66.6%

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

Population
15,637
Median Income
$56,374
Median Home Value
$182,000
Median Age
39.8
Poverty Rate
6.8%
Labor force participation
66.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
25.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2229.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
262.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1967.1
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
47.9°F
Annual Precipitation
25.8"
Annual Snowfall
40.6"

Schools

Total Schools
10
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
15,600 residents15,650 residents15,700 residents15,750 residents15,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 15,677 residents 15,756 residents ▲ +0.5%
Mitchell's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
43
housing units authorized
Single-Family
31
detached homes
Multifamily
12
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 32
2020 33
2021 53
2022 53
2023 55
2024 43

Permit volume increased 34% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
11.0 minutes
Drive Alone
77.3%
Carpool
7.6%
Public Transit
1.1%
Walk
3.4%
Work from Home
8.5%
Other
2.1%

Based on 8,234 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 Mitchell sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.6
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$936/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
39.2 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Dakota

Yankton
15,501 people
Huron
14,347 people
Pierre
14,008 people
Spearfish
12,551 people
Box Elder
12,457 people
Vermillion
11,800 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Mitchell's 15,637 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Summerfield, MD
15,635 people
Scottsboro, AL
15,641 people
Palmview, TX
15,650 people
Bellmore, NY
15,652 people
Mays Chapel, MD
15,616 people
Opelousas, LA
15,662 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Mitchell's $56,374 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Calverton, NY
$56,375 median income
Quincy, IL
$56,372 median income
Cloverleaf, TX
$56,371 median income
Meadville, MS
$56,378 median income
McDonald, PA
$56,369 median income
Dandridge, TN
$56,367 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Mitchell, 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 Mitchell, SD - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.3% White 89.7% Black or African American 0.4% Asian 0.7% American Indian 5.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.8% Two or more races 3.4% 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 Mitchell 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
Mitchell (this city) 15,637 $56,374
Yankton 15,501 $69,071
Huron 14,347 $51,556
Pierre 14,008 $74,053
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SD FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Mitchell, SD?

What is the population of Mitchell, SD? +

15,637 people live in Mitchell, SD according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Mitchell runs $56,374, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Mitchell? +

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

Mitchell has a total crime rate of 2229.8 per 100,000 residents, which is near 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 Mitchell, SD? +

Mitchell's median home value sits at $182,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Mitchell? +

Mitchell has an average annual temperature of 47.9°F, 25.8 inches of precipitation, and 40.6 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 Editorial

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.