Whitest cities in South Dakota research summary. We analyzed South Dakota’s most recent Census data to determine the whitest cities in South Dakota based on the percentage of White residents. Here are the results of our analysis:
-
The whitest city in South Dakota is Madison based on the most recent Census data.
-
Madison is 91.25% White.
-
The least White city in South Dakota is Huron.
-
Huron is 59.83% White.
-
South Dakota is 79.8% White.
-
South Dakota is the 10th Whitest state in the United States.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Today, we are looking at the whitest places in South Dakota. We won’t measure the number of Whole Foods or Pottery Barns per capita. Instead, we’ll focus on the Census data’s report of race by place in South Dakota. In particular, we ranked each place in South Dakota by the percentage of white people.
So where are the whitest cities you can live in South Dakota?
After analyzing cities with populations greater than 5,000, we came up with this list as the whitest cities in South Dakota for 2026.
Here are the 10 whites places in South Dakota for 2026:
What is the whitest city in South Dakota for 2026? According to the most recent census data Madison ranks as the whitest. If you’re wondering, Huron is the least white city of all those we measured.
Read on below to see where your hometown ranked and why. Or check out the whitest states in America and the most diverse states in America.
For more South Dakota reading, check out:
- Cheapest Places To Live In South Dakota
- Most Dangerous Cities In South Dakota
- Best Places To Live In South Dakota
The 10 Whitest Cities In South Dakota For 2026
/10
Population: 6,094
% White: 91.25%
More on Madison: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 7,086
% White: 91.11%
More on Sturgis: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 23,044
% White: 89.92%
More on Watertown: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 5,804
% White: 89.52%
More on Belle Fourche: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,996
% White: 89.01%
More on Brandon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 15,649
% White: 87.62%
More on Mitchell: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,930
% White: 87.32%
More on Spearfish: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 23,948
% White: 86.21%
More on Brookings: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 15,540
% White: 84.83%
More on Yankton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 11,878
% White: 81.87%
More on Vermillion: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How we determined the whitest places in South Dakota for 2026
To rank the whitest places in South Dakota, we used Saturday Night Science to look at Census demographic data.
We had to look at the number of white people living in each city in South Dakota on a per capita basis. In other words, the percentage of white people living in each city in South Dakota.
We looked at table B03002: Hispanic OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:
- Hispanic or Latino
- 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*
Our particular column of interest here was the number of people who identified as White alone.
We limited our analysis to town with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 16 cities.
We then calculated the percentage of residents that are White. The percentages ranked from 91.3% to 59.8%.
Finally, we ranked each city based on the percentage of White population, with a higher score being more White than a lower score. Madison took the distinction of being the most White, while Huron was the least White city.
We updated this article for 2026. This report represents our eleventh time ranking the whitest cities in South Dakota.
Read on for more information on how the cities in South Dakota ranked by population of White residents or, for a more general take on diversity in America, head over to our ranking of the most diverse cities in America.
Summary: White Populations Across South Dakota
We measured the locations with the highest percentage of white people in South Dakota. According to the most recent data, this list provides accurate information on the whitest places in South Dakota.
The most White cities in South Dakota are Madison, Sturgis, Watertown, Belle Fourche, Brandon, Mitchell, Spearfish, Brookings, Yankton, and Vermillion.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least White places in South Dakota:
- Huron
- Box Elder
- Rapid City
For more South Dakota reading, check out:
- Best Places To Raise A Family In South Dakota
- Safest Places In South Dakota
- Worst Places To Live In South Dakota
White Population By City In South Dakota
| Rank | City | Population | White Population | % White |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison | 6,094 | 5,561 | 91.25% |
| 2 | Sturgis | 7,086 | 6,456 | 91.11% |
| 3 | Watertown | 23,044 | 20,721 | 89.92% |
| 4 | Belle Fourche | 5,804 | 5,196 | 89.52% |
| 5 | Brandon | 10,996 | 9,788 | 89.01% |
| 6 | Mitchell | 15,649 | 13,711 | 87.62% |
| 7 | Spearfish | 12,930 | 11,290 | 87.32% |
| 8 | Brookings | 23,948 | 20,646 | 86.21% |
| 9 | Yankton | 15,540 | 13,183 | 84.83% |
| 10 | Vermillion | 11,878 | 9,725 | 81.87% |
| 11 | Aberdeen | 28,189 | 22,964 | 81.46% |
| 12 | Pierre | 13,948 | 11,112 | 79.67% |
| 13 | Sioux Falls | 201,469 | 157,056 | 77.96% |
| 14 | Rapid City | 77,946 | 59,460 | 76.28% |
| 15 | Box Elder | 12,902 | 9,177 | 71.13% |
| 16 | Huron | 14,385 | 8,607 | 59.83% |