City profile · South Dakota · Census ACS 2023

Wessington, SD

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

192
Residents
$65,250
Median income
$95,000
Median home
$929
Median rent (state)

Wessington - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Wessington places in the 43rd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

43rd
percentile, household income
8th
percentile, home value
8th
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: Wessington, SD

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 192 residents in Wessington, a small town within South Dakota. The typical household in Wessington brings in $65,250 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 18.0%. Typical homes in Wessington are valued around $95,000, and the median resident age is 33.0 years. Educational attainment runs 22.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 70.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

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). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $929 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts South Dakota's average monthly utility costs around $200 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 6.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

192 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Dakota

Median Household Income

$65,250 /yr

Poverty 18.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.6 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Dakota average

How does Wessington compare to other US cities?

Where Wessington sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 43% higher than other cities
Home value 8% pricier than other cities
Median rent 8% 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 Wessington 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 Wessington near the bottom of South Dakota's cities

Among the 303 South Dakota cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Wessington ranks #145 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Wessington only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#120 of 285
58th percentile in South Dakota
Median Gross Rent
#145 of 303
0th percentile in South Dakota
Median Home Value
#180 of 263
31st percentile in South Dakota
Poverty Rate
#62 of 302
79th percentile in South Dakota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#120 of 303
60th 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.

43rdIncome percentile

43rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Wessington's home value compares nationally

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

$95,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 92% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Wessington $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 - Wessington, SD Wessington, SD's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Wessington, 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 Wessington, SD median $65,250/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%
Wessington, 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 Wessington, SD. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 22.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 18.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 70.8%

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

Population
192
Median Income
$65,250
Median Home Value
$95,000
Median Age
33.0
Poverty Rate
18.0%
Labor force participation
70.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
22.6%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
194 residents196 residents198 residents200 residents202 residents 202020212022202320242025 196 residents 201 residents ▲ +2.6%
Wessington's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
92.8%
Carpool
3.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
3.1%

Based on 97 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 Wessington sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.6
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$929/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
6.5 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Dakota

Wentworth
189 people
Delmont
196 people
Reliance
196 people
Cavour
187 people
Oelrichs
187 people
Pringle
198 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Wessington's 192 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Tomales, CA
192 people
Rockfield, IN
192 people
Wilsey, KS
192 people
Glenview Manor, KY
192 people
Rockholds, KY
192 people
St. Joseph, KY
192 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Wessington's $65,250 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

New Meadows, ID
$65,250 median income
Fairview, IL
$65,250 median income
Rippey, IA
$65,250 median income
Dover, KY
$65,250 median income
Beemer, NE
$65,250 median income
Adams, ND
$65,250 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Wessington, 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 Wessington, SD - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 97.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.0% White 97.9% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% 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 Wessington 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
Wessington (this city) 192 $65,250
Wentworth 189 $91,875
Delmont 196 $43,542
Reliance 196 $53,594
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Wessington, SD?

What is the population of Wessington, SD? +

The population of Wessington, SD stands at 192 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Wessington households earn a median of $65,250 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Wessington? +

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

A typical home in Wessington is worth $95,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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.