Lake Poinsett: Demographics & People
Census counts 348 people in Lake Poinsett, in 167 households. Population shrank 15.7% from 413 (2022) to 348 (2024). Median age 62.6 years. (30.8y older than Hamlin County; 26.2y older than South Dakota). Children under 18 are 9% of the population. Population is 94% White (non-Hispanic) and 1% Asian. 81% of households are family-led. County is losing 332 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 38% adult obesity, 13% smoke.
- 2.1 people per household (vs South Dakota avg 2.4).
- 19% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs South Dakota 44%).
- 65 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs South Dakota 73).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 15.7% from 413 (2022) to 348 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~295 (extrapolated at -7.9%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 233.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 34,375 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -15.7% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 413 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 348 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | shrinking |
| Population | 348 people (vs South Dakota 15,649) |
| Population Estimate | 233 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 62.6y is 23.7 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 9% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 62.6 years (vs South Dakota 36.4y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 9.2% |
| Age Summary · Character | retirement community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 348 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 32 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 37.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 174.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 105 |
| Population under 18 | 32 |
| Median age | 62.6 years (vs South Dakota 36.4y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 348 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups).
| White residents | 376 |
|---|---|
| Diversity Index · Simpson Index | -0.17 |
| Diversity Index · Interpretation | less diverse |
| Asian population | 1.4% (vs South Dakota 1.3%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 94.0% (vs South Dakota 78.0%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (5)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 208 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 135 |
| Share born in this state | 59.8% |
| Share born in another state | 40.2% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 38.8% |
| Naturalized citizens | 1.4% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 1,850 |
Households & Family Composition
167 households. Averaging 2.3 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 81% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 148 families, 18% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 93 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 148 |
| Married couples with children | 26 |
| Average household size | 2.32 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 8.0% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 113 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 41 |
| Family households | 135 households (vs South Dakota 3,864) |
| Households that are families | 80.8% (vs South Dakota 56.4%) |
| Total households | 167 households (vs South Dakota 7,305) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 1.2% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 332 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 1.2% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 30,399 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 30,731 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -332 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 22 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 5.0% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | at-large |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | SD-AL |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 46011 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 46 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 011 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Brookings |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 5.8% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 4.40 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 7.40 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 46011 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Brookings County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 646 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 46011 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Brookings County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 66.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 54.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 52.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 35,077 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 20 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 9.2% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 348, shrinking, retirement community, upper-middle, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 348 people (vs South Dakota 15,649) |
| Town Summary · County | Brookings County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade