Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 551, settled in 1908. A regional job hub with 269 jobs.
McLaughlin has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where McLaughlin beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 1930.
Who provides power, water and the rest in McLaughlin, 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.
Ordered by what stands out in McLaughlin.
McLaughlin’s mean commuting time stands at 20 minutes, above the South Dakota town median (17 minutes) but below the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). In McLaughlin, about one in five working residents works in town. Among residents here, 22% live below the poverty line. Half commute less than 26 miles.
| McLaughlin | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 22% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 20% | 29% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 20 minutes | 17 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $62,000 | $72,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
The McLaughlin School District 15-2 runs its public schools. Two of its 3 schools are shown below, with the reason for each.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| McLaughlin Elementary - 02Largest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 203 | D− |
| McLaughlin High School - 01Largest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 155 | D− |
NCES · EDFacts
68% of McLaughlin’s expected losses from natural hazards come from cold waves, followed by inland flooding at 19%. Compared with 78% of U.S. communities, expected storm and flood damage in the town is higher.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
A winter brings about 35 inches of snow, with January nights at 5° and July afternoons at 85°.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Among 36 South Dakota towns, just 3 have a higher share of children under 18 than McLaughlin. People 65 and older are one in ten residents (18% statewide); children under 18 are 31% of residents (24% statewide). Its median age comes in at 30.5 years. 25% of McLaughlin adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more, where South Dakota’s towns sit at 33% and U.S. towns at 29%.
| McLaughlin | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 31% | 22% | 22% |
| Median age | 30.5 years | 39.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 10% | 19% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 25% | 33% | 29% |
56% women, 44% men
About 80 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±4 points). Across South Dakota, 49.2% of residents are women.
| McLaughlin | SD | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 18.6% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 12.2% | 11.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 13.2% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 10.7% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 9.4% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11% | 10.7% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 14.6% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 8.2% | 11% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 2.2% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 10.2% | 6.8% | 10.4% |
| High school | 36.6% | 29% | 26% |
| Some college | 13.8% | 19.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 14.4% | 12.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 19.6% | 21.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 5.5% | 10% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 600, single groups can be off by several points
In McLaughlin, just over a fifth of adults report frequent mental distress. Of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults who get no exercise outside work than McLaughlin. CDC measures, 26 in all: McLaughlin beats South Dakota on 2 and trails on 19.
| McLaughlin | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 35% | 16% | 19% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 14% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 10% | 12% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 15% | 17% |
| What stands out | McLaughlin | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 15.3% | 18.8% |
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 7.6% | 9.2% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 35.3% | 12.7% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
None within 15 miles of McLaughlin; the nearest are
About 6 of every 100 McLaughlin residents are enrolled in college, about the same as South Dakota.
Where McLaughlin’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
City in South Dakota, United States
McLaughlin (Lakota: matȟó Akíčita or Makáȟleča; "Bear Soldier") is a city in northeastern Corson County, South Dakota, United States. As of the 2020 census, McLaughlin had a population of 569. It is the largest city in the southern Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Most Lakȟóta speakers refer to the town as Makáȟleča or Matȟó Akíčita.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
McLaughlin has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
2 notable people were born here, including Tesa Schwans and Jim Williams.