County · South Dakota

Sanborn County, South Dakota

Sanborn County, South Dakota. Sanborn County had 2,388 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.3% since 2020, slower than South Dakota (+5.5%). It holds 21 places (3 cities, villages and boroughs, 16 towns and townships and 2 census-designated) and 1 census tract. GEOID 46111.

Sanborn County is one of the 3 counties of the Mitchell, SD micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

2,388

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,330 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,384

Median household income

$78,750

±$8,864 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $75,081

Median home value

$135,600

±$34,581 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $257,400

Median gross rent

$725

±$103 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $946

How many people live in Sanborn County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 2,330 residents in Sanborn County. The Census Bureau estimates 2,388 for July 1, 2025, up 2.3% since 2020, slower than South Dakota (+5.5%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 2,384 over 569 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +48 (2,378)
2021→2022 +31 (2,409)
2022→2023 −13 (2,396)
2023→2024 −19 (2,377)
2024→2025 +11 (2,388)

Sanborn County in South Dakota. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Sanborn County	South Dakota	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	2,384	907,428	+5
Households	946±61	365,544	no clear change
Average household size	2.47±0.16	2.39	no clear change
Housing units	1,168±53	408,584	no clear change

Sanborn County's population since 2000

From 2,675 in 2000 to 2,388 in 2025: down 10.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 2,675
2005 (estimate) 2,457
2010 Census 2,355
2015 (estimate) 2,348
2020 Census 2,330
2025 (estimate) 2,388

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Sanborn County?

Sanborn County holds 21 places: 3 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 16 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Woonsocket with 649 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Sanborn County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Woonsocket	city	631	759±142	$56,765	$80,800	7.0%	100%
Butler Township, Sanborn CountyGEOID 4611108940	township	307	169±62	$85,972	$162,500	5.9%	100%
Upland ColonyGEOID 4665628	CDP	178	30±41	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
Letcher	town	159	171±55	$81,042	$102,100	24.0%	100%
Logan Township, Sanborn CountyGEOID 4611138460	township	140	194±73	$125,250	$210,000	7.7%	100%
ArtesianGEOID 4602380	town	129	148±59	$61,806	$87,500	8.1%	100%
Woonsocket TownshipGEOID 4611172740	township	121	184±69	$105,726	$188,700	21.2%	100%
Letcher TownshipGEOID 4611136660	township	105	102±49	$105,417	not published	0.0%	100%
Silver Creek TownshipGEOID 4611158820	township	93	97±37	$71,667	$285,000	10.3%	100%
Elliott TownshipGEOID 4611118780	township	86	121±55	$101,607	not published	0.0%	100%
Jackson Township, Sanborn CountyGEOID 4611132300	township	86	99±66	$105,795	not published	2.0%	100%
Twin Lake TownshipGEOID 4611164820	township	86	75±46	not published	$159,100	0.0%	100%
Union Township, Sanborn CountyGEOID 4611165460	township	80	89±57	$117,083	$341,700	4.5%	100%
Warren Township, Sanborn CountyGEOID 4611168860	township	67	18±19	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
ForestburgGEOID 4622100	CDP	54	113±51	$125,083	not published	10.6%	100%
Afton Township, Sanborn CountyGEOID 4611100420	township	49	40±33	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
Floyd TownshipGEOID 4611121940	township	48	61±35	$94,250	$335,700	0.0%	100%
Ravenna TownshipGEOID 4611153140	township	44	12±10	not published	not published	50.0%	100%
Oneida TownshipGEOID 4611147020	township	37	7±8	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
Diana TownshipGEOID 4611116540	township	33	15±11	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
Benedict TownshipGEOID 4611104780	township	29	23±20	not published	not published	47.8%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Sanborn County?

The median resident of Sanborn County is 40.1 years old; 25.9% are under 18 and 20.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 90.2%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 5.2%. 1.7% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Sanborn County	South Dakota	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	40.1±2.3	38.0	no clear change
Under 18 years	25.9%±1.7 pts	24.2%	–
65 years and over	20.2%±2.1 pts	18.0%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	5.2%±1.1 pts	4.8%	no clear change
White alone, not Hispanic	90.2%±1.4 pts	79.8%	−3.8 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±1.0 pts	2.1%	–
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±1.0 pts	1.4%	–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	2.3%±1.7 pts	7.1%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±1.0 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	2.3%±1.5 pts	4.4%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±1.0 pts	0.3%	–
Born outside the United States	1.7%±1.0 pts	4.0%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	4.9%±2.6 pts	7.1%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	6.3%±2.1 pts	7.9%	–
With a disability	11.9%±2.4 pts	12.5%	–
No health insurance coverage	5.3%±2.2 pts	9.0%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	88.9%±4.6 pts	93.2%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	21.3%±3.6 pts	31.9%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	6.7%±2.1 pts	10.0%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	0.4%±1.0 pts	3.2%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Sanborn County earn?

Half of Sanborn County's 946 households earn less than $78,750 a year (±$8,864), against $75,081 in South Dakota. In 2015-2019 it was $69,996 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.5% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Sanborn County	South Dakota	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$78,750±$8,864	$75,081	no clear change
Mean household income	$89,850±$6,313	$98,527	–
Per capita income	$36,781±$2,914	$40,550	no clear change
People below the poverty line	8.5%±2.4 pts	11.9%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	6.8%±4.1 pts	14.3%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	5.7%±3.0 pts	7.9%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	80.5%±4.7 pts	89.6%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Sanborn County?

Owners occupy 78.6% of Sanborn County's occupied homes and renters 21.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $135,600 by its owner (±$34,581). The median renter pays $725 a month including utilities, and 34.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Sanborn County	South Dakota	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$135,600±$34,581	$257,400	no clear change
Median gross rent	$725±$103	$946	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	34.6%±17.7 pts	30.4%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,298±$232	$1,680	–
Owner-occupied homes	78.6%±5.0 pts	68.6%	no clear change
Housing units	1,168±53	408,584	no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.0%±3.3 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	11.0%±8.1 pts	6.0%	–
Single-family detached homes	79.8%±4.8 pts	66.9%	–
Mobile homes	12.2%±4.3 pts	7.2%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.1%±1.1 pts	2.3%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	35.2%±5.3 pts	15.8%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Sanborn County building?

Builders took permits for 17 new housing units across Sanborn County in 2025 (17 single-family), 7.1 per 1,000 residents.

2019 8 units
2020 6 units
2021 10 units
2022 7 units
2023 4 units
2024 11 units
2025 17 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Sanborn County get to work?

72.4% of Sanborn County's workers drive alone and 18.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.2 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Sanborn County	South Dakota	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	68.8%±3.9 pts	67.2%	–
Unemployment rate	0.6%±0.6 pts	2.9%	–
Drove alone to work	72.4%±5.0 pts	77.0%	–
Carpooled	4.6%±1.9 pts	8.3%	–
Public transportation	0.0%±2.0 pts	0.5%	–
Walked	4.3%±2.0 pts	3.1%	–
Worked from home	18.6%±5.1 pts	9.7%	no clear change
Mean travel time to work	21.2 min±2.4	17.8 min	no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Sanborn County's census tracts?

Sanborn County is a single census tract.

Census tracts of Sanborn County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 962146111962100	Woonsocket (11%)	2,330	2,384	$78,750	$135,600	$725	8.5%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Sanborn County compare with South Dakota's other counties?

Sanborn County's rank among South Dakota's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	53rd of 66
Growth 2020-2025	24th of 66
Residents per square mile	39th of 66
Median household income	13th of 66
Median home value	51st of 66
Median gross rent	43rd of 65
Poverty rate	49th of 65
Bachelor's degree or higher	49th of 66
Median age	40th of 66

Every county in South Dakota

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Sanborn County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.