Dewey County, South Dakota
Located in South Dakota, Dewey County has a population of 5,205 residents and a median age of 27.7 years, making it the #2,882 most populous county out of 3,222 nationwide. In terms of economic indicators, the county has a poverty rate of 33.0%. The median home value is $69,600, and the median household income is $54,104, which is 28% below the national median.
Demographics
Dewey County has a population of 5,205, making it the #2,882 most populous county in the US. The median age is 27.7 years, which is 28.8% below the national median.
Population Trend
Rankings →Year-over-Year Population Growth
Age & Sex Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Nativity
Geographic Mobility (Past Year)
Economy
The median household income in Dewey County is $54,104, ranking #2,525 out of 3,222 counties — 28.0% below the national median. The poverty rate is 33.0% and unemployment stands at 13.9%.
Median Household Income Trend
Rankings →Income Distribution
Industry of Employment
Occupation
Housing
The median home value in Dewey County is $69,600 (-75.3% vs national). Renters pay a median of $692/mo and the homeownership rate is 61.2%.
Median Home Value Trend
Rankings →Household Type
Education
In Dewey County, 18.8% of adults age 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher, which is 44.2% below the national average, ranking #2,217 out of 3,222 counties.
Bachelor's Degree or Higher Trend
Rankings →Health & Wellbeing
Life expectancy in Dewey County is 56.7 years. 26.4% of adults report poor or fair health and 17.6% lack health insurance. Data from County Health Rankings (2025).
Life Expectancy Trend
Substance Use
26.6% of adults in Dewey County smoke , 40.8% are obese , and 20.0% report excessive drinking.
Adult Smoking Trend
Safety
The suicide rate is 41.0 per 100,000. Motor vehicle deaths occur at a rate of 68.3 per 100,000.
Suicide Rate Trend
Families & Children
29.3% of children in Dewey County live in poverty . The teen birth rate is 58.3 per 1,000 females age 15–19.
Teen Birth Rate Trend
Civic & Transportation
Voter turnout in Dewey County is 54.2%. The mean commute time is 20.6 min, which is 25.2% below the national average.
Voter Turnout Trend
Mean Commute Time Trend
Rankings →Elections
In the 2024 presidential election, Dewey County voted Democratic with a margin of 12.8%. The vote was 55.2% Dem / 42.4% Rep. Compared to 2020, the margin shifted 4.5 toward Republicans .
Vote Share Over Time
About Dewey County, South Dakota
Dewey County, South Dakota has a total population of 5,205, making it the 2,882nd most populous county in the United States. The median age in Dewey County is 27.7 years, which is 28.8% below the national median of 38.9 years.
The median household income in Dewey County is $54,104, which ranks #2,525 of 3,222 counties nationwide. This is 28.0% below the national median of $75,149. The poverty rate is 33.0%, higher than the national rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate stands at 13.9%.
The median home value in Dewey County is $69,600, 75.3% below the national median. Renters in Dewey County pay a median gross rent of $692 per month. The homeownership rate is 61.2%, compared to the national rate of 64.4%.
In Dewey County, 18.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 44.2% below the national average of 33.7%. Health insurance coverage stands at 78.8% of the population. The average commute time for workers is 20.6 min.
Dewey County is a diverse community. The largest racial or ethnic group is American Indian (non-Hispanic) at 73.8% of the population, followed by White (non-Hispanic) (21.0%) and Two or More Races (3.6%).
All data for Dewey County, South Dakota comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates. These figures are estimates based on survey sampling and are subject to margin of error. For the most detailed and up-to-date data, visit the Census Bureau's official data portal.