Box Elder: Demographics & People
Box Elder is home to 12,902 people, in 4,679 households. Population grew 3.6% from 12,457 (2022) to 12,902 (2024). Median age 28.8 years. (11.3y younger than Pennington County; 7.6y younger than South Dakota). Children under 18 are 27% of the population. Population is 71% White (non-Hispanic) and 8% Hispanic or Latino. 75% of households are family-led. County is gaining 401 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 33% adult obesity, 14% smoke.
- 2.8 people per household (vs South Dakota avg 2.4).
- 25% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs South Dakota 44%).
- 52 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs South Dakota 73).
Population & Trend
Population grew 3.6% from 12,457 (2022) to 12,902 (2024) — about 6.0× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~13,366 (extrapolated at 1.8%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 14,002.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 29,852 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 3.6% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 12,457 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 12,902 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 12,902 people (vs South Dakota 15,649) |
| Population Estimate | 14,002 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 28.8y is 10.1 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 27% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 28.8 years (vs South Dakota 36.4y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 26.9% |
| Age Summary · Character | young community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 12,902 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 3,470 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 4,669.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 3,800.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 963 |
| Population under 18 | 3,470 |
| Median age | 28.8 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 12,902 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups).
| White residents | 9,863 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 291 |
| Asian residents | 178 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 1,235 |
| Diversity Index · Simpson Index | 39.5% |
| Diversity Index · Interpretation | less diverse |
| Asian population | 1.1% (vs South Dakota 1.3%) |
| Black population | 2.8% (vs South Dakota 1.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 8.2% (vs South Dakota 6.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 71.1% (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 (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 2.9% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 2% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 4,662 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 7,658 |
| Share born in this state | 36.1% |
| Share born in another state | 63.9% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 59.4% |
| Foreign-born residents | 2.9% |
| Naturalized citizens | 1.6% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 299 |
| From Europe | 49 |
| From Africa | 183 |
Households & Family Composition
4,679 households. Averaging 2.8 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 75% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 3,115 families, 41% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 3,474 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 3,115 |
| Married couples with children | 1,267 |
| Single-parent households | 167 |
| Average household size | 2.82 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 13.1% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 142 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 39 |
| Family households | 3,489 households (vs South Dakota 3,864) |
| Households that are families | 74.6% (vs South Dakota 56.4%) |
| Total households | 4,679 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. 21.2% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 401 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 21.2% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 35,149 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 34,748 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 401 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| 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 | 813 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 7.5% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 372 residents live in group quarters (2.9% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 372 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
|---|---|
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 46093 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 46 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 093 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Meade |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 15.1% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 11.60 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 19.30 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 46093 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Meade County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Small metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 724 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 46093 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Meade County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 71.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 57.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 35.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 28,332 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 4.30 |
| Family Score · Schools | 5 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 1 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 26.9% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 12,902, growing, young community, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 12,902 people (vs South Dakota 15,649) |
| Town Summary · County | Meade County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade