United States › South Dakota › Hughes County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Hughes County South Dakota · 17,765 residents · 742 sq mi
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The short version
Hughes County is a county of 17,765 people in South Dakota. Getting to work takes 12 minutes on average. 1% of locals were born outside the United States. The typical home is worth $181,400, having more than doubled since 2000. Median rent is $735 a month. People stay put here: 80% were in the same home a year ago.
At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 39.3
US median: 38.8
More educated
37% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 39%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 37.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
15K 15K 16K 17K 18K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Hughes County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $69,575
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,970 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $20,689 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 30.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 8.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 6.1%
Public administration 4.8%
Education & health services 2.1%
Professional, scientific, technical 1.7%
Transportation & warehousing 1.4%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.1%
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$181,400
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $86,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$735
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $404 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 66.1% in 2000
32.5% rent
from 2.39 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 88.4%(14,564)
Hispanic / Latino 1.2%(201)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 79.3%(14,085)
Hispanic / Latino 2.8%(490)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data from 32.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 89.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 7.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 9.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 78.8% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 2.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 73.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 38.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 8.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
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: 8.8%
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) 22.1%(229)
Gulf War (1990s) 18.1%(187)
Share of the 1,036 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 +4%
Home value $205,400 +13%
Population 1,479 −92%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HUGHES COUNTY VS
Hyde County
Income $73,472 +6%
Home value $181,600 same
Population 1,191 −93%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HUGHES COUNTY VS
Lyman County
Income $67,143 −3%
Home value $165,800 −9%
Population 3,694 −79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HUGHES COUNTY VS
Stanley County
Income $87,712 +26%
Home value $203,500 +12%
Population 3,018 −83%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Hughes County, South Dakota? Hughes County, South Dakota has about 17,765 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Hughes County, South Dakota? The typical household in Hughes County, South Dakota earns about $69,575 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 $181,400, and the typical rent is about $735 a month.
How educated are people in Hughes County, South Dakota? About 36.6% 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 11.8% 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 2,948 residents, a change of about 20 percent over that period.
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