Racial diversity in South Dakota is a mixed bag.
There are parts of South Dakota where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in South Dakota?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 18 cities in South Dakota to rank them from most to least diverse.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Here are the 10 most diverse places in South Dakota for 2024:
So what city is the most diverse in South Dakota? According to the most Census data, Huron took the number one over all spot for diversity in South Dakota.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where South Dakota ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.
For more South Dakota reading:
The 10 Most Diverse Places In South Dakota For 2024
/10
Population: 14,179
HHI: 4,662
% White: 65.4%
% African American: 0.8%
% Hispanic: 14.7%
% Asian: 12.0%
More on Huron: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,905
HHI: 5,857
% White: 75.5%
% African American: 2.0%
% Hispanic: 5.8%
% Asian: 1.4%
More on Box Elder: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 75,632
HHI: 5,999
% White: 76.5%
% African American: 1.6%
% Hispanic: 6.1%
% Asian: 1.2%
More on Rapid City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 193,401
HHI: 6,384
% White: 79.3%
% African American: 6.7%
% Hispanic: 5.7%
% Asian: 2.3%
More on Sioux Falls: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 28,388
HHI: 6,720
% White: 81.5%
% African American: 2.9%
% Hispanic: 4.8%
% Asian: 4.5%
More on Aberdeen: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 14,105
HHI: 6,763
% White: 81.5%
% African American: 0.0%
% Hispanic: 4.0%
% Asian: 0.6%
More on Pierre: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,667
HHI: 7,039
% White: 83.6%
% African American: 2.2%
% Hispanic: 2.8%
% Asian: 3.8%
More on Vermillion: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 15,421
HHI: 7,311
% White: 85.1%
% African American: 1.7%
% Hispanic: 6.9%
% Asian: 0.3%
More on Yankton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 23,530
HHI: 7,463
% White: 86.1%
% African American: 1.6%
% Hispanic: 3.9%
% Asian: 4.3%
More on Brookings: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 5,670
HHI: 7,537
% White: 86.5%
% African American: 0.0%
% Hispanic: 5.9%
% Asian: 0.7%
More on Belle Fourche: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in South Dakota for 2024
We still believe in the accuracy of data — especially from the Census — and Saturday Night Science. So that’s where we went to get the race breakdown across South Dakota.
That leads us to the Census’s most recently available data, the 2018-2022 American Community Survey data from the US Census.
Specifically, we looked at table B03002: HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:
- White alone*
- Black or African American alone*
- American Indian and Alaska Native alone*
- Asian alone*
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone*
- Some other race alone*
- Two or more races*
- Hispanic or Latino
We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 18 cities.
We then calculated the HHI for each city by finding the racial breakdown of a city in percent terms, squaring them, and then adding the squares together. This left us with scores ranging from 4,662 (Huron) to 8,920 (Tea).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Huron took the distinction of being the most diverse, while Tea was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the most diverse places in South Dakota.
Summary: Diversity Across South Dakota
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across South Dakota, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in South Dakota are Huron, Box Elder, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, Pierre, Vermillion, Yankton, Brookings, and Belle Fourche.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in South Dakota:
- Tea
- Harrisburg
- Sturgis
For more South Dakota reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In South Dakota
- Cheapest Places To Live In South Dakota
- Most Dangerous Cities In South Dakota
- Best Places To Raise A Family In South Dakota
- Safest Places In South Dakota
- Worst Places To Live In South Dakota
Race By City In South Dakota For 2024
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Huron, SD | 14,179 | 4,662 | 65.4% | 0.8% | 14.7% | 12.0% |
| 2 | Box Elder, SD | 11,905 | 5,857 | 75.5% | 2.0% | 5.8% | 1.4% |
| 3 | Rapid City, SD | 75,632 | 5,999 | 76.5% | 1.6% | 6.1% | 1.2% |
| 4 | Sioux Falls, SD | 193,401 | 6,384 | 79.3% | 6.7% | 5.7% | 2.3% |
| 5 | Aberdeen, SD | 28,388 | 6,720 | 81.5% | 2.9% | 4.8% | 4.5% |
| 6 | Pierre, SD | 14,105 | 6,763 | 81.5% | 0.0% | 4.0% | 0.6% |
| 7 | Vermillion, SD | 11,667 | 7,039 | 83.6% | 2.2% | 2.8% | 3.8% |
| 8 | Yankton, SD | 15,421 | 7,311 | 85.1% | 1.7% | 6.9% | 0.3% |
| 9 | Brookings, SD | 23,530 | 7,463 | 86.1% | 1.6% | 3.9% | 4.3% |
| 10 | Belle Fourche, SD | 5,670 | 7,537 | 86.5% | 0.0% | 5.9% | 0.7% |
| 11 | Spearfish, SD | 12,268 | 7,856 | 88.4% | 0.7% | 2.2% | 0.5% |
| 12 | Mitchell, SD | 15,656 | 7,935 | 88.9% | 0.5% | 4.2% | 1.1% |
| 13 | Watertown, SD | 22,718 | 8,051 | 89.6% | 0.7% | 3.7% | 0.6% |
| 14 | Madison, SD | 6,271 | 8,448 | 91.8% | 0.4% | 3.0% | 0.0% |
| 15 | Brandon, SD | 10,919 | 8,466 | 91.9% | 3.0% | 3.4% | 0.1% |
| 16 | Sturgis, SD | 7,121 | 8,568 | 92.5% | 1.7% | 1.5% | 0.7% |
| 17 | Harrisburg, SD | 7,157 | 8,775 | 93.6% | 0.0% | 2.8% | 1.5% |
| 18 | Tea, SD | 5,922 | 8,920 | 94.4% | 2.4% | 0.0% | 1.2% |
