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Alcester, SD
City in Union County, South Dakota.
Population
989
Land area
0.7sq mi
People per sq mi
1,348
ZIP codes
0
Alcester and its ZIP codes
Alcester at a glance
- Alcester is about 113 times as dense as South Dakota as a whole.
- It is the 77th most populous of 439 cities and towns in South Dakota.
- Households here earn a median of $57,000 a year, 24% less than the South Dakota figure of $75,081.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $125,800 (51% below South Dakota) and median rent is $688 a month.
Local data for Alcester, SD
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Alcester, SD, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$57,000
Poverty rate
12.4%
Median home value
$125,800
Median rent
$688/mo
Homeownership
69.3%
Bachelor's or higher
20.3%
Median age
44.4
Average commute
14.9 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (421), Norwegian Americans (114), Swedish Americans (80).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Union County. PPP loans are for Alcester.
Unemployment rate
2.6%
Aug 2026, +0.4 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$74,563
9,566 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$146,712
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$220M
FY 2026, $13,086 per person
How people get to work
Alcester, SD, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone73.0%
- Carpooled14.0%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked7.4%
- Bicycle0.7%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.2%
- Worked from home4.7%
Average one-way commute: 14.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Alcester, SD, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: wildfire
Storm events since 1996
773
Countywide, mostly flood
Flood insurance policies
199
2.5% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
85° / 7°F
29.9 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Alcester, SD, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
31.2%
U.S. 33.3% -2.1 pts
Diabetes
13.2%
U.S. 12.1% +1.1 pts
Smoking
13.6%
U.S. 12.8% +0.8 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.8%
U.S. 11.1% -3.3 pts
Cities near Alcester
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Hawarden, IACity | 7.4 mi | 2.8 |
| BeresfordCity | 8.7 mi | 1.8 |
| Chatsworth, IACity | 9.7 mi | 0.5 |
| HudsonTown | 11 mi | 0.3 |
| Akron, IACity | 15 mi | 1.2 |
| FairviewTown | 15 mi | 0.1 |
| Ireton, IACity | 16 mi | 1 |
| CentervilleCity | 18 mi | 0.7 |
| Craig, IACity | 18 mi | 0.1 |
| RichlandCensus-designated place | 19 mi | 5.6 |
| CantonCity | 19 mi | 3.3 |
| Westfield, IACity | 19 mi | 0.1 |
| Rock Valley, IACity | 21 mi | 4.5 |
| Inwood, IACity | 21 mi | 1.4 |
| WorthingCity | 22 mi | 0.6 |
| BurbankCensus-designated place | 22 mi | 0.3 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Alcester, SD in?
- Alcester is in Union County, South Dakota.
- What is the population of Alcester, SD?
- About 989 people live in Alcester, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Alcester?
- Nearby places include Hawarden, IA (7.4 mi), Beresford (8.7 mi), Chatsworth, IA (9.7 mi), Hudson (11 mi), Akron, IA (15 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023