United States › South Dakota › Hughes County COUNTY
Hughes County South Dakota · 17,570 residents (2025 est.) · 742 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 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
Hughes County is home to 17,664 people in South Dakota. Few US counties rank higher on income. 1% of locals were born outside the United States. The average commute runs 15 minutes. Density works out to 24 people per square mile. The typical home is worth $242,000, having more than doubled since 2000.
At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.5
US median: 38.9
Average education
39% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 53%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 16,481 in 2000
17,570 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 23 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 37.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
15K 15K 16K 17K 18K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Hughes County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $81,395
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,970 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $20,689 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 30.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 8.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.421 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 5.7%
Public administration 5.6%
Transportation & warehousing 2.1%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.7%
Professional, scientific, technical 1.6%
Education & health services 0.7%
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$242,000
+53%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $86,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$990
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $404 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 66.1% in 2000
28.0% rent
from 7.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.39 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 33.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.4 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 88.4%(14,564)
Hispanic / Latino 1.2%(201)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 80.2%(14,162)
Hispanic / Latino 3.3%(580)
from 35 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
from 23 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 Ancestry
+ 18 more ancestry groups with data from 32.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 89.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 7.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 9.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 78.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 2.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 73.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 74.2% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 21.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 38.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 10.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 8.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 76.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 90.2% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 79.7% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 95.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 2.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 33.1%(2,261)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 8.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 60.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 19.6% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 17.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 11.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 4.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 77.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 29.3% 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) 26.9%(330)
Gulf War (1990s) 15.9%(195)
Share of the 1,226 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 Hughes County Head to head
Compare Hughes County to nearby counties HUGHES COUNTY VS
Sully County
Income $72,578 −11%
Home value $205,400 −15%
Population 1,479 −92%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HUGHES COUNTY VS
Hyde County
Income $73,472 −10%
Home value $181,600 −25%
Population 1,191 −93%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HUGHES COUNTY VS
Lyman County
Income $67,143 −18%
Home value $165,800 −31%
Population 3,694 −79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HUGHES COUNTY VS
Stanley County
Income $87,712 +8%
Home value $203,500 −16%
Population 3,018 −83%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Hughes County, South Dakota? Hughes County, South Dakota has about 17,664 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Hughes County, South Dakota? The typical household in Hughes County, South Dakota earns about $81,395 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Hughes County, South Dakota expensive? In Hughes County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $242,000, and the typical rent is about $990 a month.
How educated are people in Hughes County, South Dakota? About 39.0% of adults age 25 and over in Hughes County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Hughes County, South Dakota? About 9.2% of people in Hughes County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.
Has Hughes County, South Dakota grown since 1990? Yes, Hughes County, South Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,847 residents, a change of about 19 percent over that period.
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