Dempster TownshipSD
A town of 251, settled in 1884.
Is Dempster Township a good place to live?
No town among the 36 in South Dakota we compare has a higher share of homes lived in by their owners than Dempster Township. Dempster Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
251 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Dempster Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Dempster Township, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Dempster Township.
With only 0.2 jobs per working resident, most people in Dempster Township work out of town
The typical journey to work for Dempster Township comes to 15 minutes, where South Dakota’s towns sit at 17 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. In Dempster Township, 4.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The top destinations are Watertown (21%), Estelline (13%) and Brookings (10%). Half of commuters travel less than 19 miles.
| Dempster Township | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 15 minutes | 17 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 4.2% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
The schools Dempster Township’s kids attend
Public schools: the Castlewood School District 28-1. One of its 2 schools is below, with the reason it’s listed.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claremont Colony Elementary - 04Largest public elementary schoolGrades K–8 | Grades K–8 | 17 | – |
NCES · EDFacts
Expect snowy winters and pleasant summers in Dempster Township
The range runs from 3° on a January night to 81° on a July afternoon, with about 61 inches of snow a winter.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Fewer children than South Dakota overall
The Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate puts Dempster Township at 251 residents, up 13% since 2020. Children under 18 are 17% of residents (24% statewide); people 65 and older are 22% of residents (18% statewide). The median age for Dempster Township comes to 44.5 years, against 39.5 years in South Dakota’s towns and 40.5 years across U.S. towns. Dempster Township: 38% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more.
| Dempster Township | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5 years | 39.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 38% | 33% | 29% |
Ages · share of residents
Education · adults 25 and older
| Dempster Township | SD | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 6.3% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.5% | 11.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 18.9% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 4.2% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 15.8% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 17.9% | 10.7% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 4.2% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 13.7% | 11% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 8.4% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 0% | 6.8% | 10.4% |
| High school | 27.9% | 29% | 26% |
| Some college | 24.6% | 19.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.8% | 12.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 21.3% | 21.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 16.4% | 10% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 300, single groups can be off by several points
How healthy Dempster Township is
Dempster Township tracks South Dakota closely on all 26 CDC measures. 15% of adults report frequent mental distress in the town.
| Dempster Township | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 22% | 23% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 15% | 17% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 30% | 36% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 19% | 16% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Moderate risk in Dempster Township, with inland flooding at the top
The national flood insurance program has paid 255 claims in Dempster Township since 1986. FEMA expects more storm and flood damage in the town than in 58% of U.S. communities. Expected losses in Dempster Township break down as 46% from inland flooding and 18% from cold waves.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
1.9% of Dempster Township is conserved land
In Dempster Township, the concentration of trails is 0.1 miles per square mile. 2.6 miles of trail.
| Dempster Township | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.1 miles per square mile | 0.6 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 1.9% | 3.3% | 4.3% |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Everything we know about Dempster Township
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Dempster Township; the nearest are
About 2 of every 100 Dempster Township residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
100% of working residents leave Dempster Township for work
Where Dempster Township’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
About Dempster Township
Unincorporated community in South Dakota, U.S.
Dempster is an unincorporated community in Hamlin County, in the U.S. state of South Dakota.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Questions about Dempster Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Dempster Township, SD a good place to live?
Dempster Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.