CensusEasy
COUNTY

Dewey County

South Dakota · 5,419 residents (2025 est.) · 2,302.376 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
Notable rankings
#23Youngest by median ageof 3,14427.7
The short version

Dewey County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $54,104. Population has declined 13% since 2000. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $69,600. At a median age of 27.7, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 28% less than the South Dakota median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 27.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,205
−13%since 2000
from 5,972 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2 / sq mi
−13%since 2009
from 3 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
27.7
+5%since 2000
from 26.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,419 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K5K6K6K6K1990201020202024Dewey County
20245K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 511.5%(597)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 911.3%(587)
US avg: 6%
10 to 149.9%(515)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 198.7%(453)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.9%(308)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412%(622)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.3%(589)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 548.8%(459)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6410.7%(557)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 747.3%(380)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 842.3%(120)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over0.3%(18)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$54,104
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $23,272 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,560
+133%since 2000
from $9,251 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
34.2%
+15.0 ptssince 2009
from 19.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
33.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2000
from 33.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.451
−8%since 2010
from 0.491 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing13.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction13.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade10.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Information5.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Arts, entertainment, food3.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Finance & insurance3.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services2.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade1.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Public administration1.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$69,600
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$692
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $308 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
61.2%
+6.0 ptssince 2000
from 55.2% in 2000
38.8% rent
Vacancy rate
12.4%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.3%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
25.3%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 30.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.3
−31%since 2009
from 1.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
45
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Dewey County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic24.1%(1,438)
Black0%(2)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(51)
Asian0.1%(7)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic21%(1,094)
Black0.5%(27)
Hispanic / Latino1%(54)
Asian0.1%(3)
Other77.4%(4,027)
Diversity Score
45
+1%since 2009
from 44 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
46
+22%since 2020
from 38 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
Mexican0.8%(44)
Puerto Rican0.2%(10)
Asian origin
Taiwanese0.1%(3)
Ancestry
German11.5%(600)
Irish4.3%(225)
American2.8%(144)
Norwegian1.9%(98)
English1.8%(94)
French0.7%(38)
Dutch0.6%(32)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(30)
Czech0.3%(16)
Swedish0.3%(16)
Italian0.3%(15)
+ 7 more ancestry groups with data
Scottish0.2%(9)
Russian0.2%(8)
Polish0.1%(7)
Danish0.1%(5)
Hungarian0.1%(5)
British0.1%(3)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest English population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.8%
+6.6 ptssince 2000
from 12.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.7%
+9.3 ptssince 2000
from 77.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.0%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.5 min
+37%since 2000
from 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.9%
+12.8 ptssince 2009
from 59.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.9%
−7.7 ptssince 2009
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
13.5%
+7.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.4%
−10.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
11.6%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
13.9%
−6.4 ptssince 2011
from 20.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.7%
−2.0 ptssince 2011
from 63.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
38.5%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 34.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
44.5%
−21.3 ptssince 2009
from 65.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
50.0%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
0.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.3%
−43.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2012
from 10.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
21.2%
−44.5 ptssince 2013
from 65.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.7%
+33.3 ptssince 2017
from 51.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.9%
+6.6 ptssince 2016
from 87.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 0.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married46.6%(799)
Married34.9%(599)
Widowed4.8%(83)
Divorced13.7%(235)
Women 15+
Never married41%(734)
Married35.4%(633)
Widowed9.1%(162)
Divorced14.6%(261)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Dewey County

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area
Pop 5,028
Audubon County
Pop 5,509
Miller County
Pop 5,812
Bent County
Pop 5,716
Places similar to Dewey County
Head to head

Compare Dewey County to nearby counties

DEWEY COUNTY VS
Corson County
Income$46,406−14%
Home value$69,800same
Population3,781−30%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DEWEY COUNTY VS
Ziebach County
Income$53,958same
Home value$99,600+43%
Population2,389−56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DEWEY COUNTY VS
Potter County
Income$72,045+33%
Home value$121,300+74%
Population2,377−56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DEWEY COUNTY VS
Walworth County
Income$65,026+20%
Home value$136,600+96%
Population5,217−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Dewey County, South Dakota?

Dewey County, South Dakota has about 5,205 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Dewey County, South Dakota earns about $54,104 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Dewey County, South Dakota expensive?

In Dewey County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $69,600, and the typical rent is about $692 a month.

How educated are people in Dewey County, South Dakota?

About 18.8% of adults age 25 and over in Dewey County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 33.0% of people in Dewey County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Dewey County, South Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Dewey County, South Dakota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 318 residents, a change of about -6 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

2 census tracts
Census Tract 9417Census Tract 9415
7 ZIP codes
ZIP 57625ZIP 57601ZIP 57656ZIP 57652ZIP 57661ZIP 57636ZIP 57630
Up the hierarchy
All counties in South Dakota
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →