Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The town, settled in 1909, counts 206 residents.
No town among the 36 in South Dakota we compare has a higher average commute than Nisland. Ditchrider House is on the National Register of Historic Places. Nisland has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 173 in 1920, 206 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1905 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Nisland, 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 Nisland.
13% of Nisland residents live below the poverty line, above both the South Dakota town median (9.5%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). The top destinations are Belle Fourche (17%), Newell (15%) and Rapid City (12%). Half the trips to work are shorter than 18 miles.
| Nisland | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $27,000 | $72,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Of the losses FEMA expects in Nisland, 50% come from inland flooding and 15% from wildfires. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 77% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
The range runs from 11° on a January night to 88° on a July afternoon, with about 40 inches of snow a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Among 36 South Dakota towns, just one has a higher share of adults who sleep under 7 hours than Nisland. 37% of Nisland adults have obesity. In Nisland, 29% of adults get no exercise outside work, and 13% have diabetes.
| Nisland | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 14% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 22% | 25% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 10% | 12% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 31% | 35% |
| What stands out | Nisland | SD |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 9.1% | 6.7% |
| More adults with heart disease | 9% | 6.8% |
| More adults who have had a stroke | 4.4% | 3.5% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
None within 15 miles of Nisland; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Nisland residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
Where Nisland’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Town in South Dakota, United States
Nisland is a town in Butte County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 206 at the 2020 census. The town was named in honor of Nis Sorensen, the original owner of the town site.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Nisland has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.