South Dakota
With a population of 907,428, South Dakota is the #47 most populous state in the U.S., spanning 66 counties. The median age of residents is 38.0 years. Households earn a median income of $75,081, 0% below the national median, with a poverty rate of 11.9% and a median home value of $257,400.
Demographics
South Dakota has a population of 907,428, making it the #47 most populous state. The median age is 38.0 years.
Population Trend
Rankings →Year-over-Year Population Growth
Age & Sex Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Nativity
Language at Home
Geographic Mobility (Past Year)
Economy
The median household income in South Dakota is $75,081, ranking #31 among all states. The poverty rate is 11.9% and unemployment stands at 2.9%.
Median Household Income Trend
Rankings →Income Distribution
Industry of Employment
Occupation
Housing
The median home value in South Dakota is $257,400. Renters pay a median of $946/mo and the homeownership rate is 68.6%.
Median Home Value Trend
Rankings →Household Type
Education
In South Dakota, 31.9% of adults age 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher, which is 5.3% below the national average, ranking #35 out of 52 states.
Bachelor's Degree or Higher Trend
Rankings →Health & Wellbeing
Life expectancy in South Dakota is 77.2 years. 13.9% of adults report poor or fair health and 10.1% lack health insurance. 91.0% of residents have health insurance coverage (ACS). Data from County Health Rankings (2025).
Life Expectancy Trend
Substance Use
15.6% of adults in South Dakota smoke , 35.5% are obese , and 22.4% report excessive drinking. The drug overdose death rate is 13.6 per 100,000.
Adult Smoking Trend
Safety
The homicide rate in South Dakota is 7.2 per 100,000 and the suicide rate is 21.3 per 100,000. Motor vehicle deaths occur at a rate of 16.6 per 100,000.
Homicide Rate Trend
Families & Children
12.9% of children in South Dakota live in poverty and the infant mortality rate is 6.7 per 1,000 live births. The teen birth rate is 19.4 per 1,000 females age 15-19.
Infant Mortality Trend
Civic & Transportation
Voter turnout in South Dakota is 65.8%. The mean commute time is 19.6 min, which is 28.8% below the national average.
Voter Turnout Trend
Mean Commute Time Trend
Rankings →Elections
In the 2024 presidential election, South Dakota voted Republican with a margin of 29.2%. The vote was 34.2% Dem / 63.4% Rep. Compared to 2020, the margin shifted 3.0 toward Republicans .
Vote Share Over Time
Counties in South Dakota
South Dakota has 66 counties. The highest median income county is Lincoln County at $99,166.
Highest Income Counties
| 1 | Lincoln County | $99,166 |
| 2 | Union County | $89,636 |
| 3 | Stanley County | $87,712 |
| 4 | Hamlin County | $87,101 |
| 5 | Douglas County | $86,442 |
| 6 | Custer County | $84,112 |
| 7 | McCook County | $83,852 |
| 8 | Deuel County | $83,112 |
| 9 | Edmunds County | $81,630 |
| 10 | Hughes County | $81,395 |
Lowest Income Counties
| 66 | Jackson County | $35,417 |
| 65 | Oglala Lakota County | $41,417 |
| 64 | Todd County | $42,075 |
| 63 | Corson County | $46,406 |
| 62 | Buffalo County | $47,045 |
| 61 | Bennett County | $53,750 |
| 60 | Ziebach County | $53,958 |
| 59 | Mellette County | $54,076 |
| 58 | Dewey County | $54,104 |
| 57 | Clay County | $56,850 |
All 66 Counties
About South Dakota
All data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2024 5-Year Estimates. Values are estimates and subject to margin of error. For more information, see our methodology.