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COUNTY

Hand County

South Dakota · 3,121 residents (2025 est.) · 1,436.633 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#53Lowest poverty rateof 3,1445.2%#62Shortest commutesof 3,14313.2#72Lowest unemploymentof 3,1440.8%
The short version

Hand County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $74,635. Population has fallen 16% since 2000, a loss of 601 residents. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $159,300. Poverty is rare here, at 5.2% of residents. It sits in the top 10% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 88%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,140
−16%since 2000
from 3,741 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2 / sq mi
−4%since 2009
from 2 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.5
−3%since 2000
from 43.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:3,121 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3K3K4K4K4K1990201020202024Hand County
20243K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.5%(203)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.3%(228)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.3%(229)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.2%(162)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.6%(176)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411%(344)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.9%(373)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 548%(251)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.2%(415)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413.3%(418)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.2%(196)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over4.6%(145)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$74,635
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,377 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$45,342
+142%since 2000
from $18,735 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
49.8%
+29.5 ptssince 2009
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
5.2%
−4.1 ptssince 2000
from 9.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.471
+25%since 2010
from 0.378 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing30.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction30.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade6.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information5.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance5.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Transportation & warehousing4.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Wholesale trade3.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services2.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Education & health services2.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Public administration1.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$159,300
+88%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$587
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $306 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
65.5%
−8.3 ptssince 2000
from 73.8% in 2000
34.5% rent
Vacancy rate
18.3%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.5%
+8.0 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
10.9%
−18.4 ptssince 2009
from 29.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.1
+36%since 2009
from 1.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
85
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Hand County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic99.1%(3,709)
Black0%(1)
Hispanic / Latino0.3%(11)
Asian0.1%(3)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic92.2%(2,895)
Black0.5%(15)
Hispanic / Latino2.1%(65)
Asian0.1%(3)
Other5.2%(162)
Diversity Score
18
+5906%since 2009
from 0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
21
+611%since 2020
from 3 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
Mexican1.9%(61)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.1%(3)
Ancestry
German40.6%(1,276)
English14.9%(468)
Irish9.2%(290)
Dutch7.3%(230)
Norwegian5.3%(166)
American4.9%(154)
Danish2.6%(81)
Czech1.6%(49)
Polish1.2%(37)
Swedish1.1%(35)
Scottish0.9%(28)
Croatian0.7%(23)
+ 13 more ancestry groups with data
French0.6%(20)
Portuguese0.6%(18)
Russian0.5%(15)
Welsh0.3%(10)
Swiss0.3%(9)
Austrian0.2%(5)
Haitian0.2%(5)
Italian0.1%(4)
Jamaican0.1%(4)
British0.1%(2)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest Dutch population · Largest Norwegian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.4%
+12.8 ptssince 2000
from 15.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.1%
+15.1 ptssince 2000
from 80.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.6%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 3.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.2 min
−3%since 2000
from 13.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.9%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 66.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.9%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.9%
−5.1 ptssince 2009
from 16.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
9.7%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.3%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
0.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2011
from 1.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
67.8%
+1.5 ptssince 2011
from 66.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
51.2%
−14.4 ptssince 2009
from 65.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.4%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
48.6%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
0.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.9%
−44.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2012
from 14.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.0%
−87.3 ptssince 2013
from 92.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.9%
+16.8 ptssince 2017
from 69.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.5%
−2.5 ptssince 2016
from 99.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married28.9%(375)
Married57.9%(751)
Widowed4.2%(54)
Divorced9.1%(118)
Women 15+
Never married21.9%(259)
Married57.3%(677)
Widowed11.6%(137)
Divorced9.2%(109)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 2,661
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Pop 3,617
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Pop 3,770
Places similar to Hand County
Head to head

Compare Hand County to nearby counties

HAND COUNTY VS
Hyde County
Income$73,472−2%
Home value$181,600+14%
Population1,191−62%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HAND COUNTY VS
Buffalo County
Income$47,045−37%
Home value$117,800−26%
Population1,802−42%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HAND COUNTY VS
Faulk County
Income$57,750−23%
Home value$147,500−7%
Population2,178−30%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HAND COUNTY VS
Beadle County
Income$67,681−9%
Home value$175,100+10%
Population19,624+529%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Hand County, South Dakota?

Hand County, South Dakota has about 3,140 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Hand County, South Dakota earns about $74,635 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Hand County, South Dakota expensive?

In Hand County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $159,300, and the typical rent is about $587 a month.

How educated are people in Hand County, South Dakota?

About 28.4% of adults age 25 and over in Hand County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 5.2% of people in Hand County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Hand County, South Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Hand County, South Dakota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,132 residents, a change of about -26 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

2 census tracts
Census Tract 9757Census Tract 9756
6 ZIP codes
ZIP 57362ZIP 57381ZIP 57467ZIP 57373ZIP 57470ZIP 57371
Up the hierarchy
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →