Mitchell, South Dakota

Population, housing costs, incomes, jobs, commuting and climate in Mitchell, compared with South Dakota and the U.S. using Census records and their margins of error.

Mitchell city · Incorporated city · Census GEOID 4643100 · South Dakota directory

Population · July 1, 2025
15,756 PEP Vintage 2025
Change · 2024 to 2025
+0.5% +73 residents
Household income
$58,620 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$7,441
Home value
$192,200 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$16,138
Monthly gross rent
$851 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$73
Median age
39.6 years ACS 2020–2024 · ±1.2
Mitchell, South Dakota location in the United States Mitchell, South Dakota
Census 2024 simplified state outlines; 2025 Gazetteer internal points. Alaska and Hawaii use separate insets. Approximate locator; city boundaries are not shown. Map sources.

Mitchell is an incorporated city in Davison County, South Dakota, part of the Mitchell, SD micropolitan area. With 15,756 residents on July 1, 2025, it ranks 7th in South Dakota and 2,341st nationally among Census places. Its population grew by 73 (0.5%) in the year to July 2025; since April 2020 it has grown 0.5%. Median gross rent in the 2020–2024 survey is $851 a month, 10.0% below the South Dakota median. Median household income is $58,620, 21.9% below the South Dakota median.

What stands out in Mitchell?

Compared with other South Dakota places, Mitchell is most distinctive for more renters, more local jobs relative to residents and denser settlement. Each statement below uses reliable estimates only, and survey differences from the state exceed their combined 90% margin of error.

  • Homeownership rate: 56.6%, 12.0 percentage points below the South Dakota rate (68.6%); lower than 92% of 256 South Dakota places with reliable estimates.
  • Jobs located in the place per 100 residents: 72.2; higher than 89% of 110 South Dakota places with reliable estimates.
  • Residents per square mile of land: 1,365; higher than 89% of 310 South Dakota places with reliable estimates.
  • Median real estate taxes paid: $2,482, 8.9% below the South Dakota median ($2,724); higher than 85% of 237 South Dakota places with reliable estimates.
  • Median home value: $192,200, 25.3% below the South Dakota median ($257,400); higher than 77% of 230 South Dakota places with reliable estimates.

How Mitchell compares with South Dakota and the U.S.

City, state and U.S. figures · ACS 2020–2024, LODES 8.4 and PEP Vintage 2025 · position among South Dakota places with reliable estimates
Measure Mitchell South Dakota U.S. Position in South Dakota
Population change since April 2020 PEP Vintage 2025 +0.5% — — higher than 51% of 226 South Dakota places
Residents per square mile of land PEP 2025 / Gazetteer 2025 1,365 — — higher than 89% of 310 South Dakota places
Median household income B19013 $58,620 ±$7,441 $75,081 $80,734 lower than 68% of 232 South Dakota places
Median home value B25077 $192,200 ±$16,138 $257,400 $332,700 higher than 77% of 230 South Dakota places
Median real estate taxes paid B25103 $2,482 ±$200 $2,724 $3,119 higher than 85% of 237 South Dakota places
Median gross rent B25064 $851 ±$73 $946 $1,413 higher than 66% of 167 South Dakota places
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent B25070 40.1% ±10.0 pp 39.8% 51.1% lower than 51% of 55 South Dakota places
Homeownership rate B25003 56.6% ±3.2 pp 68.6% 65.2% lower than 92% of 256 South Dakota places
Median age B01002 39.6 years ±1.2 38.0 years 38.9 years lower than 60% of 259 South Dakota places
Adults 25+ with a bachelor’s degree or higher B15003 23.6% ±3.5 pp 31.9% 35.7% lower than 58% of 141 South Dakota places
Poverty rate B17001 12.5% ±3.0 pp 11.9% 12.5% lower than 54% of 56 South Dakota places
People without health insurance B27010 8.5% ±2.4 pp 9.0% 8.4% lower than 68% of 66 South Dakota places
Households with a broadband subscription B28002 85.7% ±3.4 pp 89.6% 91.0% lower than 59% of 262 South Dakota places
Unemployment rate (civilian labor force) B23025 1.0% ±1.0 pp · low precision 2.9% 5.2% Not ranked: low precision
Foreign-born residents B05002 2.0% ±1.1 pp · low precision 4.0% 14.1% Not ranked: low precision
Jobs located in the place per 100 residents LODES 8.4 / PEP 72.2 — — higher than 89% of 110 South Dakota places
Change in local jobs since 2019 LODES 8.4 +3.9% — — higher than 56% of 101 South Dakota places
Workers who work from home B08301 8.1% ±2.6 pp 9.7% 15.1% lower than 51% of 32 South Dakota places
Commutes of 45 minutes or longer B08303 4.7% ±2.1 pp 6.6% 16.5% lower than 85% of 45 South Dakota places
Households without a vehicle B08201 7.4% ±3.1 pp 5.2% 8.4% lower than 57% of 20 South Dakota places

Positions compare Mitchell with South Dakota places in this directory whose estimate has a coefficient of variation of 30% or less (survey measures) or a published PEP value. The marker runs from the lowest value (left) to the highest (right); it is a description, not a score or a recommendation. 2 measures are shown in grey because the survey margin of error is too wide to rank reliably.

How many people live in Mitchell?

The latest official estimate is 15,756 residents on July 1, 2025. It ranks 2,341st by population nationally and 7th in South Dakota among this directory’s PEP places. Population changed by 73 residents between the 2024 and 2025 estimates. These are annual estimates, not census enumerations.

Mitchell population estimates, 2020 through 2025, Census Vintage 2025. Vertical range 14,847 to 16,229; axis does not start at zero. Residents · axis does not start at zero 16,229 14,847 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Annual July 1 estimates, all from Vintage 2025. Revised April 1, 2020 estimate base: 15,677; the base is separate from July 2020.
Population history · PEP Vintage 2025
Reference date Population Change from previous estimate
July 1, 2020 15,677 Separate from April 2020 base
July 1, 2021 15,628 -49
July 1, 2022 15,714 +86
July 1, 2023 15,670 -44
July 1, 2024 15,683 +13
July 1, 2025 15,756 +73

From the revised April 2020 base to July 2025, the change is +79 residents (0.5%). This is a within-vintage comparison. Boundary adjustments can affect both the estimates and their interpretation.

Download this population chart (SVG) · Official population release

Where are the boundaries?

Entity and stable identifier
Mitchell city, South Dakota · Incorporated city · 4643100
Counties or equivalents · 2025 boundaries
Davison County
Metropolitan or micropolitan context · July 2023 delineations
Mitchell, SD — Micropolitan Statistical Area County associations use Census PEP county place parts. Each county is matched by FIPS code to the official CBSA list; a city can span several counties or statistical areas. A missing association can reflect an area outside a CBSA or changed county codes between vintages. City figures on this page remain place-level statistics.
Land area
11.5 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
Water area
1.1 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
Approximate population density
1,365 residents per square mile of land
Internal point
43.727072°, -98.042192° · Census geographic reference point

Density divides the July 2025 estimate by 2025 Gazetteer land area, so it is approximate. The internal point is a locator, not an address. Census place profile reference .

Income and poverty

City, state and U.S. estimates · ACS 2020–2024
Measure / survey universe City estimate ± MOE State estimate ± MOE U.S. estimate ± MOE
Median household income Households · USD/year $58,620 ±$7,441 $75,081 ±$888 $80,734 ±$166
Per-capita income Total population · USD/year $37,512 ±$2,753 $40,550 ±$520 $44,673 ±$122
Population with poverty status determined · B17001 · ACS 2020–2024 People with poverty status determined: 14,772
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Below the poverty level 1,853 ±440 12.5% ±3.0 pp

Household income combines the incomes of everyone in a household; per-capita income divides all income by every resident. The poverty rate is 12.5% (±3.0 percentage points) under the official Census definition.

Home values, rent and tenure

City, state and U.S. estimates · ACS 2020–2024
Measure / survey universe City estimate ± MOE State estimate ± MOE U.S. estimate ± MOE
Median owner-occupied home value Owner-occupied housing units · USD $192,200 ±$16,138 $257,400 ±$3,051 $332,700 ±$236
Median gross rent Renter-occupied units paying cash rent · USD/month $851 ±$73 $946 ±$11 $1,413 ±$2
Occupied housing units by tenure · B25003 · ACS 2020–2024 Occupied housing units: 7,305
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Owner occupied 4,133 ±263 56.6% ±3.2 pp
Renter occupied 3,172 ±300 43.4% ±3.9 pp

Owner-occupied units make up 56.6% of occupied housing. Gross rent includes estimated tenant-paid utilities and home values are owners’ own estimates; both cover 2020–2024 leases and homes rather than current listings. The median home value is 3.3 times the median household income.

See housing units, occupancy, rent burden and homeowner costs .

Monthly rent by bedroom count

Median monthly gross rent by bedrooms · ACS 2020–2024 · 2024 dollars
Bedrooms Monthly gross rent 90% margin of error Precision
No bedroom (studio) $1,048 ±$638 Low precision
1 bedroom $613 ±$109 Estimate with MOE
2 bedrooms $893 ±$55 Estimate with MOE
3 bedrooms $1,282 ±$299 Estimate with MOE
4 bedrooms Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
5 or more bedrooms Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable

Census table B25031 describes renter-occupied units paying cash rent within this exact place geography. Gross rent includes contract rent and estimated tenant-paid utilities. These survey medians include existing leases across 2020–2024; they are not current apartment listings. Missing categories stay unavailable, and open-ended medians remain ranges. Small bedroom categories can have large margins of error. Download source values and provenance .

Employment among residents

Labor-force participation · B23025 · ACS 2020–2024 Population age 16 and older: 12,587
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
In the labor force 8,692 ±348 69.1% ±2.5 pp
Not in the labor force 3,895 ±313 30.9% ±2.4 pp
Civilian labor-force status · B23025 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian labor force: 8,680
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Civilian employed 8,590 ±358 99.0% ±1.1 pp
Civilian unemployed 90 ±87 · low precision 1.0% ±1.0 pp · low precision

These estimates describe residents of Mitchell wherever they work; jobs at workplaces inside the city appear under jobs located in Mitchell. They are 2020–2024 averages, not a current monthly unemployment rate.

Which industries employ residents?

Education, health care and social assistance is the largest of the published broad industry groups among employed residents: 26.2% (2,253 people; ±3.5 percentage points). The estimate covers residents’ industries wherever they work, rather than employers located inside the place.

Industry of employed residents · C24030 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 8,590
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting and mining 293 ±138 3.4% ±1.6 pp
Construction 728 ±222 8.5% ±2.6 pp
Manufacturing 1,125 ±281 13.1% ±3.2 pp
Wholesale trade 158 ±113 · low precision 1.8% ±1.3 pp · low precision
Retail trade 1,003 ±252 11.7% ±2.9 pp
Transportation, warehousing and utilities 281 ±131 3.3% ±1.5 pp
Information 170 ±106 · low precision 2.0% ±1.2 pp · low precision
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing 409 ±147 4.8% ±1.7 pp
Professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste services 586 ±190 6.8% ±2.2 pp
Education, health care and social assistance 2,253 ±313 26.2% ±3.5 pp
Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services 909 ±240 10.6% ±2.8 pp
Other services, except public administration 351 ±146 4.1% ±1.7 pp
Public administration 324 ±142 3.8% ±1.6 pp

Occupations among employed residents

Broad occupation groups · C24010 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 8,590
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Management, business, science and arts 2,584 ±367 30.1% ±4.1 pp
Service occupations 1,744 ±276 20.3% ±3.1 pp
Sales and office 1,925 ±352 22.4% ±4.0 pp
Natural resources, construction and maintenance 1,138 ±268 13.2% ±3.1 pp
Production, transportation and material moving 1,199 ±280 14.0% ±3.2 pp
Selected detailed occupation groups · C24010 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 8,590
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Management occupations 569 ±184 6.6% ±2.1 pp
Computer and mathematical occupations 177 ±112 · low precision 2.1% ±1.3 pp · low precision
Educational instruction and library occupations 690 ±231 8.0% ±2.7 pp
Health practitioners and technical occupations 467 ±145 5.4% ±1.7 pp
Sales and related occupations 876 ±269 10.2% ±3.1 pp
Transportation occupations 229 ±120 · low precision 2.7% ±1.4 pp · low precision

The detailed groups are subsets of the broad groups and should not be added to them.

How residents get to work

Means of transportation to work · B08301 · ACS 2020–2024 Workers age 16 and older: 8,496
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Drove alone 6,642 ±428 78.2% ±3.8 pp
Carpooled 730 ±283 8.6% ±3.3 pp
Public transportation 98 ±101 · low precision 1.2% ±1.2 pp · low precision
Taxi or ride-hailing 6 ±60 · low precision 0.1% ±0.7 pp · low precision
Motorcycle 0 ±16 · low precision 0.0% ±0.2 pp · low precision
Bicycle 50 ±54 · low precision 0.6% ±0.6 pp · low precision
Walked 172 ±91 · low precision 2.0% ±1.1 pp · low precision
Other means 113 ±81 · low precision 1.3% ±1.0 pp · low precision
Worked from home 685 ±224 8.1% ±2.6 pp
Travel time to work · B08303 · ACS 2020–2024 Workers age 16+ who did not work from home: 7,811
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Under 15 minutes 5,688 ±673 72.8% ±7.7 pp
15–29 minutes 1,406 ±342 18.0% ±4.3 pp
30–44 minutes 352 ±166 4.5% ±2.1 pp
45–59 minutes 49 ±62 · low precision 0.6% ±0.8 pp · low precision
60 minutes or longer 316 ±154 4.0% ±2.0 pp
Household vehicle availability · B08201 · ACS 2020–2024 Households: 7,305
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
No vehicle available 540 ±224 7.4% ±3.1 pp

Travel times cover workers who did not work from home. Vehicle availability is counted per household, not per driver.

Households and residents

Median age is 39.6 years (±1.2). The demographic profile covers age groups, race and Hispanic origin, household types, nativity, languages, education and moves, each compared with South Dakota and the U.S.

Read Mitchell demographics →

How many jobs are located in Mitchell?

Employers in Mitchell reported 11,314 jobs in 2023, +3.9% compared with 2019 (10,894 jobs). That is 72.2 jobs for every 100 residents in the July 2023 population estimate. These are jobs at workplaces inside the city limits, wherever the workers live, unlike resident employment figures.

Jobs located in Mitchell by industry (NAICS sector) · 2023 · LODES 8.4
Industry Jobs Share of local jobs South Dakota share
Health care and social assistance 2,147 19.0% 16.9%
Retail trade 1,639 14.5% 12.2%
Manufacturing 1,572 13.9% 10.4%
Accommodation and food services 1,136 10.0% 9.1%
Educational services 899 7.9% 8.6%
Construction 732 6.5% 6.1%
Professional, scientific and technical services 594 5.3% 4.3%
Wholesale trade 537 4.7% 5.1%
Public administration 465 4.1% 5.5%
Finance and insurance 400 3.5% 5.1%
Administrative, support and waste management services 322 2.8% 3.1%
Other services, except public administration 238 2.1% 2.9%
Information 153 1.4% 1.2%
Transportation and warehousing 138 1.2% 2.9%
Arts, entertainment and recreation 124 1.1% 1.9%
Management of companies and enterprises 98 0.9% 1.3%
Real estate and rental and leasing 76 0.7% 1.1%
Utilities 37 0.3% 0.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 7 0.1% 1.7%
Monthly earnings and worker age · jobs located in Mitchell · 2023
Group Jobs Share South Dakota share
$1,250 a month or less 2,662 23.5% 21.2%
$1,251 to $3,333 a month 2,621 23.2% 23.8%
More than $3,333 a month 6,031 53.3% 55.1%
Age 29 or younger 2,938 26.0% 24.7%
Age 30 to 54 5,393 47.7% 50.5%
Age 55 or older 2,983 26.4% 24.8%

Health care and social assistance is the largest sector for jobs located in Mitchell (19.0% of local jobs, compared with 16.9% statewide). Earnings bands describe what each job pays per month, not household income, and a worker can hold more than one job.

Source: Census LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES) 8.4, workplace area characteristics, all jobs, second-quarter reference date. Census blocks are summed to 2024 place boundaries. Includes private, state and local government and federal civilian jobs; excludes self-employment, military and informal work. Counts include confidentiality noise and are less precise for small places.

Nearby station climate normals

ALEXANDRIA, SD (NOAA station USC00390128) is approximately 21.4 km from this place’s Census internal point. The table describes that station’s 1991–2020 climate normals, using NOAA’s corrected version 1.0.1. It is historical station context, rather than a forecast or an average across the city.

ALEXANDRIA monthly average daily high and low temperature, 1991–2020 NOAA normals. Solid line: high; dashed line: low. Vertical scale 0 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature (°F) 90 0 Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov
Average daily high: solid line. Average daily low: dashed line. NOAA station normals, 1991–2020; the table gives all monthly values.
ALEXANDRIA · 1991–2020 monthly normals
Month Average daily high (°F) Average daily low (°F) Precipitation (inches)
January 25.3 5.8 0.47
February 31.0 9.6 0.74
March 43.8 20.7 1.13
April 57.6 31.9 2.88
May 69.4 44.4 3.64
June 79.3 55.6 3.97
July 84.2 60.0 3.13
August 81.8 57.4 3.02
September 75.1 48.6 2.81
October 60.0 34.7 2.01
November 43.2 21.4 0.92
December 29.2 10.3 0.60

Station location: 43.6514°, -97.7981°; elevation 416.1 meters. We select the nearest station within 25 km with all 12 months of high/low temperature and precipitation marked “S” (standard) by NOAA. Standard normals meet NOAA’s data-availability rules and can include estimated missing months. Distance is a straight-line great-circle calculation from the Census internal point. Coastal exposure, elevation and urban conditions can differ between the station and an address. NOAA normals and definitions · Original station CSV · Retained station data, flags and matching details .

Check a specific address before moving

City averages help compare places. A particular home’s school assignment, transit service and flood-map coverage need checks at the address.

  • FEMA Flood Map Service Center — search the address, read the effective map and its date, and check any map changes. An unmapped location does not establish an absence of flood risk.
  • NCES public school district directory — find district contact information, then use the district’s official address locator or enrollment office to confirm school assignment. A city name or district boundary alone does not assign a school.
  • FCC National Broadband Map — check reported service at the exact location, then confirm availability and terms with the provider.
  • Check the official transit operator’s route map and timetable for the address and your actual travel hours; the citywide commuting shares above do not measure service on a particular street.

Sources and data notes

Population: Census PEP Vintage 2025, published May 14, 2026. Survey measures: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates, published January 29, 2026, dollar figures in 2024 dollars. Geography: Census 2025 Gazetteer, with simplified 2024 state outlines for the locator. Statistical estimates and derived values use the same retained records in profiles, comparison, filters and downloads.

Climate uses NOAA 1991–2020 station normals (v1.0.1); jobs located in the city use LEHD LODES 8.4. Crime, school assignments and hazard scores are not inferred from these datasets, and missing values are never treated as zero. Inspect original sources, read calculation details, download this place’s source observations , or submit a correction.

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