Box Elder, SD

Census Place

2024 Population

12,902

US Senator

John Thune

Republican Party

US Senator

Mike Rounds

Republican Party

US Representative

Dusty Johnson

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

28.8

0.699% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

7.53%

Population & Diversity

Box Elder, SD is home to a population of 12.9k people, from which 98.9% are citizens.

As of 2024, 1.64% of Box Elder, SD residents were born outside of the country (211 people).

In 2024, there were 8.66 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (9.18k people) in Box Elder, SD than any other race or ethnicity. There were 1.06k American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic) and 949 Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

98.9%

2024 Citizenship

98.2%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 98.9% of Box Elder, SD residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Box Elder, SD was 98.2%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Box Elder, SD compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Box Elder, SD

White (Non-Hispanic)
9.18k ± 714
American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic)
1.06k ± 551
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
949 ± 327

8.22%

Hispanic Population

1.06k people

8.22% of the people in Box Elder, SD are hispanic (1.06k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Box Elder, SD as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for South Dakota.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
3,429 ± 1,435 people
Guatemala
2,883 ± 1,316 people
Ethiopia
2,826 ± 1,303 people

In 2024, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of South Dakota was Mexico, the natal country of 3,429 South Dakota residents, followed by Guatemala with 2,883 and Ethiopia with 2,826.

Foreign-Born Population

1.64%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

211 people

2.87%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

358 people

As of 2024, 1.64% of Box Elder, SD residents (211 people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Box Elder, SD was 2.87%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Box Elder, SD compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Gulf War (2001-)
922 ± 275
Gulf War (1990s)
296 ± 153
Vietnam
228 ± 128

Box Elder, SD has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (2001-), 3.11 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Box Elder, SD.

Economy

The economy of Box Elder, SD employs 5.69k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Box Elder, SD were Health Care & Social Assistance (1,303 people), Construction (758 people), and Retail Trade (693 people), and the highest paying industries were Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($66,250), Manufacturing ($64,875), and Public Administration ($60,152).

Employment

Occupations

5.69k

2024 Value

± 723

−2.11%

1 Year decline

± 17.7%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Box Elder, SD declined at a rate of −2.11%, from 5.82k employees to 5.69k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Box Elder, SD, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (924 people), Sales & Related Occupations (427 people), and Construction & Extraction Occupations (402 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Box Elder, SD.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for South Dakota.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in South Dakota (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

5.69k

2024 Value

± 723

−2.11%

1 Year decline

± 17.7%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Box Elder, SD declined at a rate of −2.11%, from 5.82k employees to 5.69k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Box Elder, SD, are Health Care & Social Assistance (1,303 people), Construction (758 people), and Retail Trade (693 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Box Elder, SD, though some of these residents may live in Box Elder, SD and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$50,070

Median earning men ± $7,151

$36,599

Median earning women ± $2,716

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Manufacturing ($75,950), Public Administration ($61,890), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($56,000).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Public Administration ($52,702), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($51,453), and Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($45,455).

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in South Dakota went to Donald J. Trump with 63.4% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (34.2%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.68%).

John Thune and Mike Rounds are the senators currently representing the state of South Dakota. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Box Elder, SD is currently represented by Dusty Johnson in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Box Elder, SD. Showing the available data for South Dakota.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (63.4%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (34.2%)
Democratic Party
Robert Kennedy (1.68%)
Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in South Dakota went to Donald J. Trump with 63.4% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (34.2%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.68%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in South Dakota for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from South Dakota

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for South Dakota.

John Thune

Senator from South Dakota

Assumed office on January 3, 2005

Mike Rounds

Senator from South Dakota

Assumed office on January 3, 2015

John Thune and Mike Rounds are the senators currently representing South Dakota.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in South Dakota over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Box Elder, SD

Dusty Johnson

District at-large Representative

Republican Party

Box Elder, SD is currently represented by Dusty Johnson (Republican Party).

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the member for Box Elder, SD have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

The student population of Box Elder, SD in 2022 is skewed towards men, with 43 male students and 18 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Box Elder, SD are White (3 and 50%), Unknown (2 and 33.3%), and Hispanic or Latino (1 and 16.7%).

The largest universities in Box Elder, SD by number of degrees awarded are National American University-Ellsworth (6 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Box Elder, SD are General Business Administration & Management (4 and 66.7%), Accounting Technology & Bookkeeping (1 and 16.7%), and Airway Management & Operations (1 and 16.7%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2022 there were 61 students enrolled in Box Elder, SD, 70.5% men and 29.5% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 36 records, of which 30.6% were women and 69.4% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
4 degrees awarded
Airway Management & Operations
1 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Box Elder, SD was General Business Administration & Management with 4 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Box Elder, SD according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

National American University-Ellsworth

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

6 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was National American University-Ellsworth with 6 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2023, 5 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Box Elder, SD, which is 5 times more than the 1 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 3 degrees mean that there were 1.5 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Unknown, with 2 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Private for-profit, 4-year or above ($6,000) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Private for-profit, 4-year or above ($675) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Box Elder, SD was $302,100 in 2024, which is 0.908 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $271,800 to $302,100, a 11.1% increase. The homeownership rate in Box Elder, SD is 48.2%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Box Elder, SD have an average commute time of 20.1 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Box Elder, SD is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$302,100

Median Property Value 2024

±$24,800

$2,257

Median Property Taxes

±$386

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Box Elder, SD the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Box Elder, SD compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

48.2%

Homeownership

2024

59.1%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 48.2% of the housing units in Box Elder, SD were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 48.7%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Box Elder, SD compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$73,008

Median Household Income

± $8,659

4.68k

Number of Households

± 615

In 2024, the median household income of the 4.68k households in Box Elder, SD declined from $73,008 from the previous year's value of $73,698.

The following chart displays the households in Box Elder, SD distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Box Elder, SD is from South Dakota.

0.44

2024 Wage GINI in South Dakota

0.443

2023 Wage GINI in South Dakota

In 2024, the income inequality in South Dakota was 0.44 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.642% decline from 2023 to 2024, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for South Dakota was lower than than the national average of 0.474. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in South Dakota in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in South Dakota across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (75.8%)
Carpooled (12.8%)
Worked At Home (6.86%)

In 2024, 75.8% of workers in Box Elder, SD drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (12.8%) and those who worked at home (6.86%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

20.1 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Box Elder, SD have a shorter commute time (20.1 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 2.12% of the workforce in Box Elder, SD have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Box Elder, SD compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Box Elder, SD distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Box Elder, SD have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

7.53% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Box Elder, SD (943 out of 12.5k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 6 - 11, followed by Females 55 - 64 and then Females 35 - 44.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Box Elder, SD is White, followed by Two Or More and Native American.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798, followed by New York (5,087).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

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