City profile · South Dakota · Census ACS 2023

White Lake, SD

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

423
Residents
$48,906
Median income
$59,300
Median home
$929
Median rent (state)

White Lake - the verdict

Nationally, White Lake sits in the 18th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

18th
percentile, household income
1st
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: White Lake, SD

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 423 residents in White Lake, a small town within South Dakota. The typical household in White Lake brings in $48,906 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 5.3%. White Lake's housing stock carries a median value of $59,300, and the median resident age is 55.7 years. 9.8% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 53.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 2 residential building permits were authorized in White Lake (Low Activity), per Census BPS data. NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 46.1°F with 23.9 inches of precipitation per year and 37.7 inches of snowfall.

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. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $929 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts South Dakota's average monthly utility costs around $200 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 19.6 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

423 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Dakota

Median Household Income

$48,906 /yr

Poverty 5.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.6 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Dakota average

How does White Lake compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 18% higher than other cities
Home value 1% 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

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 White Lake'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.

18thIncome percentile

18th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How White Lake's home value compares nationally

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

$59,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 99% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $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. White Lake $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 - White Lake, SD White Lake, SD's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not White Lake, 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 White Lake, SD median $48,906/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%
White Lake, 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 White Lake, SD. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 9.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 53.0%

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

Population
423
Median Income
$48,906
Median Home Value
$59,300
Median Age
55.7
Poverty Rate
5.3%
Labor force participation
53.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
9.8%

Climate

Avg Temperature
46.1°F
Annual Precipitation
23.9"
Annual Snowfall
37.7"

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 →
395 residents400 residents405 residents410 residents415 residents 202020212022202320242025 397 residents 410 residents ▲ +3.3%
White Lake's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 2
2021 2
2022 0
2023 0
2024 2

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
84.4%
Carpool
6.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
8.1%
Other
1.0%

Based on 186 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 White Lake 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
19.6 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Dakota

Iroquois
425 people
Waubay
425 people
Bison
419 people
Kadoka
427 people
Ramona
427 people
Veblen
428 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to White Lake's 423 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Potrero, CA
423 people
Seville, CA
423 people
Smith Corner, CA
423 people
Liberty, IL
423 people
Titonka, IA
423 people
Good Thunder, MN
423 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to White Lake's $48,906 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Grandview, IL
$48,906 median income
Violet, LA
$48,897 median income
Gildford, MT
$48,897 median income
Las Animas, CO
$48,917 median income
Del City, OK
$48,895 median income
Bloomington, IN
$48,918 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - White Lake, 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 White Lake, SD - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 99.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.6% White 99.0% Black or African American 0.9% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 0.0% 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 White Lake 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
White Lake (this city) 423 $48,906
Iroquois 425 $60,750
Waubay 425 $36,635
Bison 419 $62,273
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SD NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about White Lake, SD?

What is the population of White Lake, SD? +

White Lake, SD counts 423 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

White Lake households earn a median of $48,906 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in White Lake? +

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

Homes in White Lake carry a median value of $59,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in White Lake? +

White Lake has an average annual temperature of 46.1°F, 23.9 inches of precipitation, and 37.7 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

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

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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.