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COUNTY

Lake County

South Dakota · 10,993 residents (2025 est.) · 562.891 sq mi
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The short version

Lake County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $76,808. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $247,600. 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 43.8
US median: 38.9
Average education
35% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 84%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
10,972
−3%since 2000
from 11,276 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
19 / sq mi
−5%since 2009
from 20 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
43.8
+20%since 2000
from 36.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:10,993 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
10K11K12K12K13K1990201020202024Lake County
202411K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.7%(517)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.1%(669)
US avg: 6%
10 to 144.9%(542)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 198.2%(897)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246%(660)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.4%(1,248)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.3%(1,135)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549.3%(1,015)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.8%(1,623)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7416.4%(1,801)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.5%(489)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.4%(376)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$76,808
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,087 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$45,963
+179%since 2000
from $16,446 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
51.7%
+27.6 ptssince 2009
from 24.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.4%
−1.4 ptssince 2000
from 9.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.469
+15%since 2010
from 0.408 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing9.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction9.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance7.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade6.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Education & health services5.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Other services3.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical1.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$247,600
+84%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $73,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$947
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $382 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.8%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 70.5% in 2000
26.2% rent
Vacancy rate
18.6%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 21.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 17.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.0%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 42.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.2
+39%since 2009
from 2.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
91
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lake County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.4%(10,981)
Black0.2%(23)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(89)
Asian0.5%(61)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic88.8%(9,748)
Black0.7%(80)
Hispanic / Latino5.3%(577)
Asian0.7%(81)
Other4.4%(486)
Diversity Score
26
+181%since 2009
from 9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
14
−5%since 2020
from 15 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
Mexican3.3%(362)
Cuban0.5%(50)
Nicaraguan0.4%(45)
Argentine0.2%(20)
Puerto Rican0.1%(16)
Guatemalan0.1%(6)
Asian origin
Filipino0.4%(43)
Chinese0.3%(30)
Nepalese0.1%(6)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.2%(19)
Ancestry
German36.4%(3,997)
Norwegian16.3%(1,789)
Irish12.4%(1,359)
English8.5%(937)
American4.4%(486)
Dutch3.5%(383)
Swedish2.8%(312)
Danish2.1%(233)
Welsh1.2%(129)
Scottish0.8%(93)
French0.8%(89)
Finnish0.5%(60)
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data
Russian0.5%(57)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(53)
Italian0.4%(47)
Swiss0.4%(43)
Czech0.3%(37)
Polish0.3%(36)
Australian0.3%(34)
British0.2%(17)
Belgian0.1%(13)
Arab0.1%(10)
Lebanese0.1%(10)
Hungarian0.1%(7)
Ukrainian0.1%(6)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
34.6%
+13.6 ptssince 2000
from 21.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.4%
+7.8 ptssince 2000
from 85.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.8%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 5.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.9 min
+16%since 2000
from 12.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.9%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 75.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.9%
−6.5 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.5%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.8%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% 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
3.5%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2011
from 3.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.4%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 67.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
21.4%
+7.0 ptssince 2009
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.9%
−24.5 ptssince 2009
from 62.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.8%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Female
47.2%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Foreign born
3.7%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.8%
−42.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.1%
+3.6 ptssince 2012
from 11.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.0%
−88.4 ptssince 2013
from 92.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.6%
+9.7 ptssince 2017
from 76.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.0%
−2.8 ptssince 2016
from 97.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.0%
+2.1 ptssince 2016
from 0.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married34.6%(1,702)
Married54%(2,658)
Widowed1.3%(66)
Divorced10.1%(499)
Women 15+
Never married25.1%(1,086)
Married52.8%(2,279)
Widowed12.3%(531)
Divorced9.8%(423)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Lake County to nearby counties

LAKE COUNTY VS
Moody County
Income$78,427+2%
Home value$226,500−9%
Population6,632−40%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE COUNTY VS
Miner County
Income$76,140−1%
Home value$142,600−42%
Population2,281−79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE COUNTY VS
McCook County
Income$83,852+9%
Home value$230,100−7%
Population5,964−46%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE COUNTY VS
Brookings County
Income$70,064−9%
Home value$264,600+7%
Population37,635+242%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lake County, South Dakota?

Lake County, South Dakota has about 10,972 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Lake County, South Dakota earns about $76,808 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lake County, South Dakota expensive?

In Lake County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $247,600, and the typical rent is about $947 a month.

How educated are people in Lake County, South Dakota?

About 34.6% of adults age 25 and over in Lake County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 8.4% of people in Lake County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lake County, South Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Lake County, South Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 422 residents, a change of about 4 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

4 census tracts
Census Tract 9602.02Census Tract 9601Census Tract 9603Census Tract 9602.01
7 ZIP codes
ZIP 57042ZIP 57075ZIP 57054ZIP 57016ZIP 57076ZIP 57057ZIP 57050
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Rankings
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →