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COUNTY

Day County

South Dakota · 5,484 residents (2025 est.) · 1,028.49 sq mi
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The short version

Day County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $66,033. Population has declined 13% since 2000. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $173,600. With a median age of 44.8, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 160%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,437
−13%since 2000
from 6,267 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
5 / sq mi
−4%since 2009
from 5 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
44.8
+4%since 2000
from 42.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,484 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K6K6K7K7K1990201020202024Day County
20245K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.1%(278)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.6%(248)
US avg: 6%
10 to 148.4%(455)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.1%(386)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.7%(200)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.6%(523)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.6%(633)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 548.5%(464)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.7%(801)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7415.2%(828)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.2%(392)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over4.2%(229)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$66,033
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,227 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$39,593
+150%since 2000
from $15,856 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
47.0%
+31.6 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 14.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.458
+9%since 2010
from 0.420 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing16%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction15.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Information12.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services7.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration6.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade6.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Transportation & warehousing3.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Professional, scientific, technical2.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services1.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$173,600
+160%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$660
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $303 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.6%
−1.5 ptssince 2000
from 76.0% in 2000
25.4% rent
Vacancy rate
31.1%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 32.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.8%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 16.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
23.2%
+6.4 ptssince 2009
from 16.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.6
+51%since 2009
from 1.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
75
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Day County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.2%(5,714)
Black0.1%(8)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(24)
Asian0.1%(4)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic83%(4,514)
Black0%(2)
Hispanic / Latino2.8%(154)
Asian0.1%(4)
Other14%(763)
Diversity Score
36
+36%since 2009
from 27 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
25
−43%since 2020
from 43 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.6%(86)
Puerto Rican1.3%(68)
Asian origin
Chinese0.1%(3)
Burmese0%(1)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German39.2%(2,129)
Norwegian25.3%(1,377)
Polish11.5%(627)
English6.5%(351)
Irish4.6%(251)
American4.1%(224)
Russian2.5%(137)
Swedish2%(110)
French1.9%(103)
Dutch1.7%(92)
Danish0.7%(37)
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh0.7%(36)
Czech0.6%(33)
British0.3%(19)
Scottish0.3%(19)
Finnish0.2%(12)
Greek0.2%(12)
Italian0.1%(8)
Austrian0.1%(5)
Portuguese0.1%(5)
Hungarian0.1%(4)
Serbian0%(1)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest Polish population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.0%
+6.6 ptssince 2000
from 15.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.4%
+13.4 ptssince 2000
from 80.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.1%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.3 min
+56%since 2000
from 14.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.3%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 73.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.4%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.0%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.2%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.0%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.1%
−3.9 ptssince 2011
from 6.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.5%
−6.2 ptssince 2011
from 63.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.6%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.1%
−28.1 ptssince 2009
from 64.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.9%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
Female
50.1%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
Foreign born
1.7%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.6%
−39.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2012
from 14.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.5%
−77.9 ptssince 2013
from 86.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.8%
+22.9 ptssince 2017
from 60.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.1%
−1.6 ptssince 2016
from 97.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2016
from 0.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married31.5%(712)
Married50.1%(1,133)
Widowed4.2%(95)
Divorced14.2%(321)
Women 15+
Never married22.7%(499)
Married53.3%(1,170)
Widowed14.9%(328)
Divorced9%(198)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Day County

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Pop 5,835
Lincoln County
Pop 5,645
Stark County
Pop 5,319
Scott County
Pop 4,866
Places similar to Day County
Head to head

Compare Day County to nearby counties

DAY COUNTY VS
Marshall County
Income$78,156+18%
Home value$156,500−10%
Population4,426−19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DAY COUNTY VS
Codington County
Income$72,727+10%
Home value$237,700+37%
Population29,562+439%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DAY COUNTY VS
Clark County
Income$70,726+7%
Home value$158,400−9%
Population4,031−26%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DAY COUNTY VS
Roberts County
Income$65,130−1%
Home value$154,500−11%
Population10,255+87%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Day County, South Dakota?

Day County, South Dakota has about 5,437 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Day County, South Dakota?

The typical household in Day County, South Dakota earns about $66,033 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Day County, South Dakota expensive?

In Day County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $173,600, and the typical rent is about $660 a month.

How educated are people in Day County, South Dakota?

About 22.0% of adults age 25 and over in Day County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Day County, South Dakota?

About 14.8% of people in Day County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Day County, South Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Day County, South Dakota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,541 residents, a change of about -22 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

3 census tracts
Census Tract 9528Census Tract 9529Census Tract 9527
7 ZIP codes
ZIP 57274ZIP 57273ZIP 57219ZIP 57239ZIP 57468ZIP 57261ZIP 57422
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →