City · Charles Mix County, South Dakota

Wagner, South Dakota

Wagner is a city in Charles Mix County, South Dakota. It has 1,529 residents. Wagner, South Dakota has a quality-of-life score of 43 out of 100 (moderate), ranking #8,932 of 15,651 US cities and towns. Within South Dakota it ranks #66 of 75 cities and towns. It ranks best on average commute time (low), grocery stores (high) and drug overdose deaths (low). It ranks worst on primary care shortage (high), broadband subscriptions (low) and traffic deaths (high).

43Moderate

Quality-of-life score: #8,932 of 15,651 cities and towns
South Dakota: #66 of 75 in SD
Population: 1,529 (2020-2024)
Land area: 2 mi²
Density: 822.7 /mi²
FIPS code: 4668020

Percentile-based score (100 is the best in the country) from 70 of 80 indicators, with the default “Explorer” weights.

Open in the map

Scores by category

Each category averages its indicators' percentile scores among US cities and towns.

Safety38#9,618/15,637
Economy14#13,372/15,631
Housing90#1,479/14,977
Health15#13,243/15,609
Healthcare8#14,436/15,650
Environment87#2,082/15,453
Education83#2,607/15,649
Infrastructure21#12,343/15,650
Community37#9,898/15,651
Leisure & amenities75#3,969/15,651

Strengths · Weaknesses

Indicators where Wagner, South Dakota ranks highest and lowest among US cities and towns (score = percentile, 100 = best). Values marked “Charles Mix County value” are the county’s: the source publishes no figure for this city or town, and the county holding most of its residents stands in.

Strengths

Average commute time · low12.0 min
99/100South Dakota 17.8 minUnited States 26.4 min2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B08013
Grocery stores · high4.3 /10k
99/100South Dakota 2.0 /10kUnited States 1.7 /10k2025U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsCharles Mix County value
Drug overdose deaths · low0.0 /100k
99/100South Dakota 8.0 /100kUnited States 18.4 /100kMar 2025–Feb 2026Centers for Disease Control and PreventionProvisional dataCharles Mix County value
Public libraries · high4.3 /10k
98/100South Dakota 1.4 /10kUnited States 0.5 /10k2024Institute of Museum and Library ServicesCharles Mix County value
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) · low4.7 µg/m³
98/100South Dakota 5.1 µg/m³United States 8.0 µg/m³2022Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyCharles Mix County value
Rent-burdened households · low34.9%
98/100South Dakota 39.8%United States 51.1%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B25070

Weaknesses

Primary care shortage · high21.0
1/100South Dakota 8.6United States 6.2Oct 2026Health Resources and Services AdministrationCharles Mix County value
Broadband subscriptions · low72.7%
2/100South Dakota 89.6%United States 91.0%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B28002
Traffic deaths · high43.3 /100k
2/100South Dakota 15.7 /100kUnited States 12.3 /100k2020-2024National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationProvisional dataCharles Mix County value
Flu vaccinations · low24.0%
2/100South Dakota 45.0%United States 44.0%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteCharles Mix County value
Adult smoking · high24.0%
3/100South Dakota 16.3%United States 16.1%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteModel-based estimate
Distance to an Amtrak station · high180 mi
3/100South Dakota 185 miUnited States 43 mi2026Federal Aviation Administration · Bureau of Transportation Statistics · U.S. Census BureauCharles Mix County value

Trends

The largest changes over about five years, next to the country's over the same periods.

Broadband subscriptionsImproving
61.6% (2015-2019) → 72.7% (2020-2024)
+11 pts5 yearsCensus table B28002US 82.7% → 91.0%
Rent-burdened householdsImproving
39.2% (2015-2019) → 34.9% (2020-2024)
−4.3 pts5 yearsCensus table B25070US 49.6% → 51.1%
Median household incomeImproving
$39,760 (2015-2019) → $47,462 (2020-2024)
+19%5 yearsCensus table B19013US $65,712 → $81,604
Home price to income ratioWorsening
2.4× (2015-2019) → 2.9× (2020-2024)
+19%5 yearsCensus table B25077US 3.5× → 4.1×
Rent as share of incomeWorsening
21.0% (2015-2019) → 24.7% (2020-2024)
+3.7 pts5 yearsCensus table B25071US 29.8% → 30.6%
Child poverty rateWorsening
11.8% (2015-2019) → 15.2% (2020-2024)
+3.4 pts5 yearsCensus table B17001US 16.8% → 15.5%

What changed in five years

How each measure moved between two periods about five years apart, read against whether more or less is better, the published margin of error and the same change in other places.

Over about five years, Wagner, South Dakota improved on 2 of 13 measures with a comparison and declined on 0. 11 moved within the margin of error and 0 barely changed.

Earlier (2015-2019)
Latest (2020-2024)
Lower standingHigher standing

Position is the place's standing among cities and towns: further right is better, whichever way the measure counts.

Improved2

Broadband+11 points61.6% → 72.7%
Household income+19%$39,760 → $47,462

Declined0

No measure declined by more than its margin of error.

All 13 measures

Change of every measure of Wagner, South Dakota between two periods about five years apart
Measure	Before	After	Change	Reading	Favourable vs peers
Average commute time	11.2 min2015-2019	12.0 min2020-2024	+0.8 min	Within the margin of error	38%
Bachelor's degree or higher	21.6%2015-2019	22.6%2020-2024	+1.1 points	Within the margin of error	35%
Broadband subscriptions	61.6%2015-2019	72.7%2020-2024	+11 points	Improved	65%
Effective property tax rate	1.27%2015-2019	1.13%2020-2024	−0.1 points	Within the margin of error	47%
High school diploma or higher	89.8%2015-2019	88.1%2020-2024	−1.7 points	Within the margin of error	18%
Home price to income ratio	2.4×2015-2019	2.9×2020-2024	+0.5×	Within the margin of error	50%
Income inequality (Gini index)	0.4342015-2019	0.4812020-2024	+0.047	Within the margin of error	18%
Median household income	$39,7602015-2019	$47,4622020-2024	+19%	Improved	32%
Poverty rate	15.4%2015-2019	15.7%2020-2024	+0.3 points	Within the margin of error	40%
Rent as share of income	21.0%2015-2019	24.7%2020-2024	+3.7 points	Within the margin of error	29%
Rent-burdened households	39.2%2015-2019	34.9%2020-2024	−4.3 points	Within the margin of error	70%
Unemployment rate	6.5%2015-2019	8.0%2020-2024	+1.5 points	Within the margin of error	22%
Uninsured residents (under 65)	18.2%2015-2019	18.5%2020-2024	+0.3 points	Within the margin of error	43%

“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 14640 cities and towns that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.

Sources: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Values are the latest and the one five years earlier of the same publisher dataset; datasets that changed publisher in between are never compared.

Survey estimates (American Community Survey) compare the two most recent 5-year windows that do not share years, so the margin of error of the difference holds. The 2015-2019 window predates the pandemic and 2020-2024 includes it.
A change counts only when it is larger than 1.645 times the square root of the two standard errors squared, summed (a 90% margin). Measures published without a margin must change by at least 5% to count.
“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 15651 cities and towns that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.
Standing is a percentile among the same places: 0 is the lowest value on the measure (or the worst when lower is better), 100 the best.

Cities and towns like Wagner, South Dakota five years ago that improved

The places whose measures looked most like those of Wagner, South Dakota in the earlier period, ranked by how many measures improved beyond the margin of error, minus how many declined. A comparison of published data, not a forecast and not advice.

For comparison, Wagner, South Dakota itself moved −6.6 points in standing on average over the same 10 measures (standings of all places average about zero).

How the ranking works

Similarity is the root-mean-square difference of standings in the earlier period over the measures most places have. Places are ranked by measures that improved beyond the margin of error minus those that declined (a count that estimation noise in small places cannot inflate), then by the mean change of standing over the measures a place has in both periods. Only places with more improvements than declines and a rise in standing are listed. Standings are relative, so a place can improve in absolute terms and still lose standing.

Who lives here

Age, race and education of residents, from the American Community Survey. Shares are of all residents (age), residents of every origin (race) or adults 25 and over (education).

Age and sex

1,529 residents (±173)

Men
Women

80 and over†
70–79†
60–69†
50–59†
40–49†
30–39†
20–29†
10–19†
Under 10†

Share of all residents, each sex

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: 20–29 men (+4.1 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B01001View table on data.census.gov

Race and Hispanic origin

1,529 residents (±173)

Wagner, South Dakota
South Dakota share

White46%698
Black0.4%†6
Hispanic or Latino7.4%†113
Asian2.0%†31
American Indian and Alaska Native36%556
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander0.0%0
Other or two or more races8.2%†125

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: White (−12.5 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B03002View table on data.census.gov

Education

928 residents (±106)

Wagner, South Dakota
South Dakota share

No high school diploma12%†110
High school or GED42%387
Some college14%133
Associate degree9.5%†88
Bachelor's degree15%143
Graduate degree7.2%†67

No change since 2015–2019 is larger than the margin of error.

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B15003View table on data.census.gov

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Income

How household income is spread, not just the middle: each bar is the share of households in that income range.

Household income

535 households (±59)

Wagner, South Dakota
South Dakota share

Under $25k27%146
$25k–50k24%129
$50k–75k16%†83
$75k–100k13%†68
$100k–150k11%†57
$150k–200k3.6%†19
$200k or more6.2%†33

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: $200k or more (+4.9 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B19001View table on data.census.gov

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Homes

Who owns and who rents, what homes cost, and what the housing stock looks like.

Owners and renters

535 households (±59)

Wagner, South Dakota
South Dakota share

Own56%297
Rent44%238

No change since 2015–2019 is larger than the margin of error.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B25003View table on data.census.gov

Rent paid

223 households (±48)

Wagner, South Dakota
South Dakota share

Under $75053%†119
$750–1,00019%†42
$1,000–1,50026%†59

Home values

297 homes (±54)

Wagner, South Dakota
South Dakota share

Under $150k58%172
$150k–250k31%†91
$250k–400k8.1%†24

Age of homes

632 homes (±55)

Wagner, South Dakota
South Dakota share

2010 or later3.0%†19
2000–20092.1%†13
1980–199924%149

Size of homes

632 homes (±55)

Wagner, South Dakota
South Dakota share

Studio0.8%†5
1 bedroom19%122
2 bedrooms26%162

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Getting to work

How workers travel to their job and how long it takes them.

How people get to work

584 workers (±99)

Wagner, South Dakota
South Dakota share

Drive alone80%468
Carpool13%†78
Public transit1.4%†8
Walk4.3%†25
Bike0.0%0
Work from home0.9%†5
Other0.0%0

No change since 2015–2019 is larger than the margin of error.

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B08301View table on data.census.gov

Time to get to work

579 workers (±99)

Wagner, South Dakota
South Dakota share

Under 15 min66%383
15–29 min26%148
30–44 min3.6%†21

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Local businesses

Employer businesses and sole proprietors by industry, per resident and against the state and the nation. Counts of businesses next to counts of people, not a measure of demand.

The Census Bureau publishes business counts by county, not by city, so these are the figures of Charles Mix County, the county holding most of Wagner's residents.

Charles Mix County has 299 employer establishments, 324 for every 10,000 residents (1.31× the US rate of 248; 1.02× South Dakota's), with 2,388 paid employees at an average annual pay of $40,801. The Census Bureau also counts 684 nonemployer businesses, mostly sole proprietors.

Establishments: 299; 684 nonemployers
Per 10,000 residents: 324; US 248 · South Dakota 317
Paid employees: 2,388
Average annual pay: $40,801; US $68,342

Employer establishments, employees, average pay and nonemployers of Charles Mix County by industry, with the density per resident against the nation

Construction of buildings	19	20.6	2.72×More than typical	178	$61,056	25
Specialty trade contractors	17	18.4	1.19×About typical	43	$67,791	50
Religious organizations	15	16.3	2.93×More than typical	38	$17,737	—
Restaurants and other eating places	15	16.3	0.89×About typical	98	$16,612	—
Gasoline stations	14	15.2	4.68×More than typical	164	$21,866	—
Insurance agencies and brokerages	13	14.1	3.21×More than typical	45	$40,133	21
Automotive repair and maintenance	12	13	2.58×More than typical	42	$33,310	17
Truck transportation	12	13	2.57×More than typical	27	$35,704	23
Services to buildings and dwellings	11	11.9	1.77×More than typical	39	$24,410	37
Ambulatory health care services	10	10.8	0.52×Fewer than typical	48	$39,063	23
Banks and credit unions	8	8.7	2.69×Too few to compare	59	$55,949	3
Landscaping services	8	8.7	2.48×Too few to compare	21	$30,571	13

Rank places for an industry Open Charles Mix County

County Business Patterns (2023); Nonemployer Statistics (2024)

Per-resident figures divide by the population estimate of 2023: 9,222 residents here, 336,755,052 in the United States. County Business Patterns counts establishments in 2023; the Nonemployer Statistics count businesses in 2024.
“More than typical” is a density at least 1.25 times the nation's per resident, “fewer” at most 0.8 times, with at least 10 establishments. It compares counts of businesses with counts of people: it says nothing about demand, incomes, size, quality or profit, and visitors and commuters are not residents.
The Census Bureau adds noise to employment and payroll to protect confidentiality, and withholds some figures: an industry with few establishments can show employees or pay as unavailable.
Industries overlap: a narrower industry (full-service restaurants) is part of a broader one (restaurants), so the rows do not add up.
Industries follow the North American Industry Classification System; the two surveys use different editions (NAICS 2017 and 2022), which this page matches industry by industry.

Federal contracts performed here

No federal contract obligations recorded here in FY2026.

Grants and other federal assistance are counted by county here, not split among cities: Wagner is mostly in Charles Mix County.

See federal money in Charles Mix County

Representation in Congress

Members serving today, with their record in the current Congress (party-unity votes cast with their caucus, roll calls missed). Not a grade.

Wagner, South Dakota is represented in the 119th Congress by these members.

House

Dusty JohnsonR-SD · 100% of residentsWith party 99%Missed 4.7%

Senate

Explore Congress The 2026 races

County

A city can lie in several counties. Some indicators are published for counties only: the page marks them.

Charles Mix County53100% of residents

Other cities and towns in Charles Mix County

Largest first.

Similar cities and towns

Closest indicator profiles across the country (no model: score distances).

Data and sources

Latest published value of each indicator; periods differ by source. Values flagged by their publisher are marked.

PLACES: Local Data for Better HealthCenters for Disease Control and Prevention · release 2025
Local Area Unemployment StatisticsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · release 2025
American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2017-2024
Building Permits SurveyU.S. Census Bureau · release 2026-08
Population Estimates ProgramU.S. Census Bureau · release 2025
Small Area Health Insurance EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
Small Area Income and Poverty EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
County Health Rankings & RoadmapsUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute · release 2022-2025+2026-03-supplement

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