City profile · South Dakota · Census ACS 2023

Whitewood, SD

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

746
Residents
$67,250
Median income
$214,200
Median home
$1,046
Median rent (state)

Whitewood - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Whitewood lands in the 46th percentile for household income and the 89th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

46th
percentile, household income
47th
percentile, home value
24th
percentile, median rent
89th
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: Whitewood, SD

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 746 residents in Whitewood, a small town within South Dakota. Whitewood households earn a median of $67,250 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.7%. Typical homes in Whitewood are valued around $214,200, and the median resident age is 43.9 years. About 18.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 62.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 5 residential building permits were authorized in Whitewood (Construction Slowdown), down 29% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Whitewood reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 415.8 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,046 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in South Dakota run around $200, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 49.3 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Low).

Population

746 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Dakota

Median Household Income

$67,250 /yr

Poverty 4.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.6 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Dakota average

How does Whitewood compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 46% higher than other cities
Home value 47% pricier than other cities
Median rent 24% pricier than other cities
Safety 89% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just South Dakota and the picture shifts: Whitewood ranks #5 of 34 South Dakota cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

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 Whitewood'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.

46thIncome percentile
89thSafety percentile

46th percentile nationally for median household income · 89th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Whitewood's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Whitewood'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 67 Avg. percentile National median
Whitewood'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 Whitewood's home value compares nationally

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

$214,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 53% 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%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Whitewood $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 - Whitewood, SD Whitewood, SD's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Whitewood, 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 Whitewood, SD median $67,250/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%
Whitewood, 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 Whitewood, SD. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.8%

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

Population
746
Median Income
$67,250
Median Home Value
$214,200
Median Age
43.9
Poverty Rate
4.7%
Labor force participation
62.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
415.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
207.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
207.9
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.

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
850 residents900 residents950 residents1,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 897 residents 981 residents ▲ +9.4%
Whitewood's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
5
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
3
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
6.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 7
2020 5
2021 8
2022 2
2023 7
2024 5

Permit volume decreased 29% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
73.1%
Carpool
13.8%
Public Transit
0.5%
Walk
7.9%
Work from Home
4.1%
Other
0.6%

Based on 390 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 Whitewood sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.6
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,046/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
49.3 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Dakota

Wessington Springs
747 people
Wanblee
744 people
Woonsocket
753 people
Castlewood
756 people
Menno
736 people
Bryant
761 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Whitewood's 746 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Marco Shores-Hammock Bay, FL
746 people
Glenwood, GA
746 people
Oldenburg, IN
746 people
Mortons Gap, KY
746 people
Lakeport, MI
746 people
Fairfield, MT
746 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Whitewood's $67,250 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Bliss, ID
$67,250 median income
Lockhart, TX
$67,252 median income
DeMotte, IN
$67,244 median income
Monroe, NC
$67,265 median income
Central Square, NY
$67,232 median income
Boone, IA
$67,269 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Whitewood, 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 Whitewood, SD - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 90.2% 8.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.5% White 90.2% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 1.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 8.7% 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 Whitewood 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
Whitewood (this city) 746 $67,250
Wessington Springs 747 $46,750
Wanblee 744 N/A
Woonsocket 753 $52,283
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SD FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Whitewood, SD?

What is the population of Whitewood, SD? +

The population of Whitewood, SD stands at 746 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Whitewood households earn a median of $67,250 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Whitewood? +

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

Whitewood has a total crime rate of 415.8 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 Whitewood, SD? +

The median home value in Whitewood is $214,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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