United States › South Dakota › Douglas County COUNTY
Douglas County South Dakota · 2,888 residents (2025 est.) · 432 sq mi
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The short version
Douglas County is a county of 2,828 people in South Dakota. Few US counties rank higher on income. There are 7 people per square mile. Home values have more than tripled since 2000, reaching $166,900. 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 77% of homes are owner-occupied.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 126%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 3,458 in 2000
2,888 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 7 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 41.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
3K 3K 3K 4K 4K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Douglas County Age distribution, 2024
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Section 02
Income & economy $86,442
+67%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,478 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $13,827 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 14.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.405 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 22%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.8%
Transportation & warehousing 1.1%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.6%
Education & health services 0.4%
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$166,900
+126%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$877
+60%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $300 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 80.8% in 2000
23.3% rent
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.30 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 19.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 1.4 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.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 97.9%(3,384)
Hispanic / Latino 0.4%(13)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 91.8%(2,597)
from 7 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 8 more ancestry groups with data from 14.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 68.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 3.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 65.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 17.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 2.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 62.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 80.5% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 44.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 14.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 9.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 67.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 84.8% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 92.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 97.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 9.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 39.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 33.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 21.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 6.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.7% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 70.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 26.8% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
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, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 29.5%(46)
Share of the 156 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Douglas County Head to head
Compare Douglas County to nearby counties DOUGLAS COUNTY VS
Charles Mix County
Income $64,038 −26%
Home value $170,600 +2%
Population 9,303 +222%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DOUGLAS COUNTY VS
Davison County
Income $66,208 −23%
Home value $205,800 +23%
Population 20,069 +595%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DOUGLAS COUNTY VS
Aurora County
Income $72,885 −16%
Home value $151,900 −9%
Population 2,801 −3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DOUGLAS COUNTY VS
Hutchinson County
Income $73,977 −14%
Home value $163,000 −2%
Population 7,413 +157%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Douglas County, South Dakota? Douglas County, South Dakota has about 2,828 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Douglas County, South Dakota? The typical household in Douglas County, South Dakota earns about $86,442 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Douglas County, South Dakota expensive? In Douglas County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $166,900, and the typical rent is about $877 a month.
How educated are people in Douglas County, South Dakota? About 24.9% of adults age 25 and over in Douglas County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Douglas County, South Dakota? About 11.0% of people in Douglas County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.
Has Douglas County, South Dakota grown since 1990? Yes, Douglas County, South Dakota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 918 residents, a change of about -25 percent over that period.
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