County · South Dakota
Stanley County, South Dakota
Stanley County, South Dakota. Stanley County had 3,018 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.3% since 2020, slower than South Dakota (+5.5%). It holds 1 place (1 city, village or borough) and 1 census tract. GEOID 46117.
Stanley County is one of the 2 counties of the Pierre, SD micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
3,018
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,980 · ACS 2020-2024: 3,015
Median household income
$87,712
±$25,802 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $75,081
Median home value
$203,500
±$67,875 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $257,400
Median gross rent
$952
±$132 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $946
How many people live in Stanley County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 2,980 residents in Stanley County. The Census Bureau estimates 3,018 for July 1, 2025, up 1.3% since 2020, slower than South Dakota (+5.5%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 3,015 over 1,444 square miles of land.
| Measure | Stanley County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 3,015 | 907,428 | −2 |
| Households | 1,290±100 | 365,544 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.34±0.18 | 2.39 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,542±90 | 408,584 | no clear change |
Stanley County's population since 2000
From 2,772 in 2000 to 3,018 in 2025: up 8.9%. 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.
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 Stanley County?
Stanley County holds 1 place: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place). The largest is Fort Pierre with 2,166 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Fort Pierre | 2,115 | $70,357 |
|---|
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 Stanley County?
The median resident of Stanley County is 44.5 years old; 21.2% are under 18 and 24.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 87.9%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 6.4%.
| Measure | Stanley County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5±4.3 | 38.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.2%±2.7 pts | 24.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 24.4%±3.1 pts | 18.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.2%±0.5 pts | 4.8% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 87.9%±4.0 pts | 79.8% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.8 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.8 pts | 1.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 2.6%±2.8 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.4%±2.9 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.9%±1.2 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.4%±1.2 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.1%±3.6 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.8%±2.3 pts | 7.9% | – |
| With a disability | 17.8%±4.8 pts | 12.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.4%±1.6 pts | 9.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.5%±2.9 pts | 93.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 28.2%±6.7 pts | 31.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.2%±4.0 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.5%±1.3 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 Stanley County earn?
Half of Stanley County's 1,290 households earn less than $87,712 a year (±$25,802), against $75,081 in South Dakota. In 2015-2019 it was $87,849 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart.
| Measure | Stanley County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $87,712±$25,802 | $75,081 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $96,262±$10,787 | $98,527 | – |
| Per capita income | $43,482±$4,214 | $40,550 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 5.1%±3.9 pts | 11.9% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 12.1%±11.7 pts | 14.3% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 2.3%±2.7 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.9%±5.0 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 Stanley County?
Owners occupy 83.1% of Stanley County's occupied homes and renters 16.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $203,500 by its owner (±$67,875). The median renter pays $952 a month including utilities, and 42.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Stanley County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $203,500±$67,875 | $257,400 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $952±$132 | $946 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.8%±21.7 pts | 30.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,413±$253 | $1,680 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 83.1%±6.3 pts | 68.6% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,542±90 | 408,584 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±2.3 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±10.3 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 66.9%±6.3 pts | 66.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 19.6%±6.3 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.8%±1.3 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 8.7%±5.0 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 Stanley County building?
Builders took permits for 11 new housing units across Stanley County in 2025 (11 single-family), 3.6 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Stanley County get to work?
80.9% of Stanley County's workers drive alone and 6.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 18.0 minutes.
| Measure | Stanley County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 67.3%±4.5 pts | 67.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 0.5%±0.9 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 80.9%±7.5 pts | 77.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.2%±4.8 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±1.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 2.3%±2.2 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.6%±4.0 pts | 9.7% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 18.0 min±3.5 | 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 Stanley County's census tracts?
Stanley County is a single census tract.
| Tract 960146117960100 | 3,015 | $87,712 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Stanley County compare with South Dakota's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 47th of 66 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 32nd of 66 |
| Residents per square mile | 55th of 66 |
| Median household income | 3rd of 66 |
| Median home value | 24th of 66 |
| Median gross rent | 11th of 65 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22nd of 66 |
| Median age | 17th of 66 |
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 Stanley 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.