Willow Lake, SD

This city of 273 residents needs 7 more housing units over the next five years.

Housing snapshot

Population
273 (2026)
Households
119
Median household income
$79,672 (2026)
Typical home value
$203,218
Owner-occupied
57%
Five-year housing need
7 units

Comparison to other South Dakota municipalities

Willow Lake: $79,672 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$45K >$135K
Willow Lake: None jobs to household ratio
<0.13 >2.24
Willow Lake: No permit data
<0.2% >25.2%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

In Willow Lake, SD, the typical home price of $203,218 is below the South Dakota average of $260,281. Willow Lake, SD's median household income of $79,672 comfortably exceeds what is needed to afford the typical home, making this a relatively affordable market.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Willow Lake, SD has roughly 119 households and a population that has been largely stable in recent years.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Willow Lake, SD is heavily oriented toward detached single-family, which makes up 84% of units. Homeownership is the norm in Willow Lake, SD, with 57% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How does this place compare to similar communities?