United States › South Dakota › Dewey County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Dewey County South Dakota · 5,239 residents · 2,302 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 5,239 people, Dewey County is a county in South Dakota. The poverty rate is 35.0%, above the 12.8% national rate. This skews young, with a median age of 32.4. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 17% of adults. The typical home is worth $65,900, having more than doubled since 2000. 1% of residents were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 32.4
US median: 38.8
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 33%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 26.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
5K 5K 6K 6K 6K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Dewey County Age distribution, 2020
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $45,859
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $23,272 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $9,251 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 19.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 33.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 11%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.5%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.4%
Transportation & warehousing 1.6%
Education & health services 0.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$65,900
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$586
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $308 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 55.2% in 2000
41.6% rent
from 3.15 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 1.9 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 24.1%(1,438)
Hispanic / Latino 0.9%(51)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 16.2%(849)
Hispanic / Latino 1.5%(81)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data from 12.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 77.4% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 59.1% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 20.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 63.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 45.6% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 34.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 34.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 14.1%(32)
Gulf War (1990s) 13.7%(31)
Share of the 227 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Dewey County Head to head
Compare Dewey County to nearby counties DEWEY COUNTY VS
Corson County
Income $46,406 +1%
Home value $69,800 +6%
Population 3,781 −30%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DEWEY COUNTY VS
Ziebach County
Income $53,958 +18%
Home value $99,600 +51%
Population 2,389 −56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DEWEY COUNTY VS
Potter County
Income $72,045 +57%
Home value $121,300 +84%
Population 2,377 −56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DEWEY COUNTY VS
Walworth County
Income $65,026 +42%
Home value $136,600 +107%
Population 5,217 −4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Dewey County, South Dakota? Dewey County, South Dakota has about 5,239 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Dewey County, South Dakota? The typical household in Dewey County, South Dakota earns about $45,859 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 $65,900, and the typical rent is about $586 a month.
How educated are people in Dewey County, South Dakota? About 17.2% 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 35.0% 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 284 residents, a change of about -5 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here 