South Dakota · 18 places of 5,000+
Fastest-growing cities in South Dakota, 2020 to 2024
Short answer
- Fastest
- +49.0%
- Growing
- 12
- Shrinking
- 6
The 18 fastest-growing
Harrisburg grew fastest, from 6,847 in July 2020 to 10,203 in July 2024, +49.0%. It is the 14th largest of the 18 places ranked. 12 places grew and 6 shrank or held flat; the median change was +1.8%.
By raw numbers the biggest gain was in Sioux Falls, +15,841 people. At the other end, Pierre changed by -2.0%. Growth is measured between the July 2020 and July 2024 estimates for places with 5,000 or more residents in 2024, so fast growth from a small base can outrank larger absolute gains.
- 01Harrisburg+49.0%
- 02Tea+35.6%
- 03Box Elder+16.2%
- 04Spearfish+12.9%
- 05Sioux Falls+8.2%
- 06Rapid City+6.6%
- 07Brookings+5.1%
- 08Belle Fourche+3.7%
- 09Watertown+3.6%
- 10Huron+1.8%
- 11Yankton+1.6%
- 12Vermillion+1.3%
- 13Mitchell-0.3%
- 14Sturgis-1.2%
- 15Madison-1.2%
- 16Aberdeen-1.8%
- 17Brandon-1.9%
- 18Pierre-2.0%
Dots: the 18 places in the chart. Orange pin: Harrisburg, ranked first.
All 18 places of 5,000+ ranked
| # | Place | 2024 | Since 2020 | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harrisburg | 10,203 | +49.0% | Lincoln County |
| 2 | Tea | 7,699 | +35.6% | Lincoln County |
| 3 | Box Elder | 13,887 | +16.2% | Pennington County +1 |
| 4 | Spearfish | 13,803 | +12.9% | Lawrence County |
| 5 | Sioux Falls | 209,289 | +8.2% | Minnehaha County +1 |
| 6 | Rapid City | 79,894 | +6.6% | Pennington County |
| 7 | Brookings | 24,555 | +5.1% | Brookings County |
| 8 | Belle Fourche | 5,855 | +3.7% | Butte County |
| 9 | Watertown | 23,492 | +3.6% | Codington County |
| 10 | Huron | 14,515 | +1.8% | Beadle County |
| 11 | Yankton | 15,670 | +1.6% | Yankton County |
| 12 | Vermillion | 11,877 | +1.3% | Clay County |
| 13 | Mitchell | 15,621 | -0.3% | Davison County |
| 14 | Sturgis | 7,014 | -1.2% | Meade County |
| 15 | Madison | 6,086 | -1.2% | Lake County |
| 16 | Aberdeen | 27,919 | -1.8% | Brown County |
| 17 | Brandon | 10,837 | -1.9% | Minnehaha County |
| 18 | Pierre | 13,788 | -2.0% | Hughes County |
Questions people ask
What is the fastest-growing city in South Dakota?
Harrisburg, up 49.0% from July 2020 to July 2024 among places of 5,000+, to 10,203 residents.
Which South Dakota city added the most people?
Sioux Falls, which gained 15,841 residents from July 2020 to July 2024.
How many South Dakota cities are shrinking?
6 of 18 places of 5,000+ had the same or fewer residents in July 2024 than in July 2020.
Why use places of 5,000 or more?
Small towns can swing by double-digit percentages from a few new homes, and Census estimates for them carry more uncertainty. The 5,000 floor keeps the ranking to places where a percentage means something.
Sources and data as of
Data as of: Census Vintage 2024 population estimates, 2024 Gazetteer land area and internal points, SAIPE 2023 median household income.
How every number is computed: methodology. Spotted a wrong figure? Report an error.