City profile · South Dakota · Census ACS 2023

Willow Lake, SD

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

455
Residents
$63,929
Median income
$150,000
Median home
$929
Median rent (state)

Willow Lake - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Willow Lake places in the 41st percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

41st
percentile, household income
27th
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: Willow Lake, SD

455 people live in Willow Lake, South Dakota - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $63,929 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 0.0%. Willow Lake's housing stock carries a median value of $150,000, and the median resident age is 16.2 years. Educational attainment runs 16.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 62.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 0 residential units authorized here in 2024 (No Permits).

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 $929 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $200 across South Dakota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 4.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

455 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Dakota

Median Household Income

$63,929 /yr

Poverty 0.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.6 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Dakota average

How does Willow Lake compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 41% higher than other cities
Home value 27% 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 Willow 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.

41stIncome percentile

41st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Willow Lake's home value compares nationally

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

$150,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 73% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Willow 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 - Willow Lake, SD Willow Lake, SD's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Willow 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 Willow Lake, SD median $63,929/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%
Willow 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 Willow Lake, SD. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 16.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.1%

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

Population
455
Median Income
$63,929
Median Home Value
$150,000
Median Age
16.2
Poverty Rate
0.0%
Labor force participation
62.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
16.2%

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
264 residents266 residents268 residents270 residents272 residents 202020212022202320242025 266 residents 271 residents ▲ +1.9%
Willow Lake's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

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

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
69.7%
Carpool
16.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.8%
Work from Home
9.8%
Other
3.0%

Based on 132 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 Willow 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
4.5 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Dakota

Bridgewater
456 people
Oahe Acres
443 people
Bowdle
442 people
Kimball
469 people
Wilmot
441 people
White
438 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Willow Lake's 455 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

German Valley, IL
455 people
Moran, KS
455 people
Ghent, MN
455 people
Wardell, MO
455 people
Millingport, NC
455 people
Weston, PA
455 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Willow Lake's $63,929 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Charlotte Park, FL
$63,929 median income
Blooming Prairie, MN
$63,929 median income
Red Lake Falls, MN
$63,929 median income
Belmont, OH
$63,929 median income
Evadale, TX
$63,929 median income
Lakeport, TX
$63,929 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Willow 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 Willow Lake, SD - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 83.1% 12.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 13.4% White 83.1% Black or African American 3.5% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 12.1% Two or more races 1.3% 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 Willow 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
Willow Lake (this city) 455 $63,929
Bridgewater 456 $38,500
Oahe Acres 443 $76,375
Bowdle 442 $55,875
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SD NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Willow Lake, SD?

What is the population of Willow Lake, SD? +

455 people live in Willow Lake, SD according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Willow Lake is $63,929 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Willow Lake? +

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

Willow Lake's median home value sits at $150,000, 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 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.