United States › South Dakota › Lake County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Lake County South Dakota · 11,059 residents · 563 sq mi
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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 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Lake County is home to 11,059 people in South Dakota. 2% of people here were born outside the United States. The average commute runs 18 minutes. Owners hold 71% of the housing stock. Renters pay $666 a month at the median. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $170,300.
At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 40.0
US median: 38.8
Average education
33% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 53%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 36.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
10K 11K 12K 12K 13K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Lake County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $63,165
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,087 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $16,446 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 24.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 9.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 7.3%
Public administration 3.7%
Education & health services 3.1%
Transportation & warehousing 2.1%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.1%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.7%
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$170,300
+53%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $73,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$666
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $382 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 70.5% in 2000
28.8% rent
from 2.40 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.3 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 97.4%(10,981)
Hispanic / Latino 0.8%(89)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 89.1%(9,849)
Hispanic / Latino 5.5%(606)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data from 21.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 85.7% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 5.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 75.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 3.9% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 67.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 28.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 7.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 34.6%(1,702)
Women 15+
Never married 25.1%(1,086)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 7.6% 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) 8.6%(61)
Gulf War (1990s) 19.4%(137)
Share of the 708 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 Lake County Head to head
Compare Lake County to nearby counties LAKE COUNTY VS
Moody County
Income $78,427 +24%
Home value $226,500 +33%
Population 6,632 −40%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE COUNTY VS
Miner County
Income $76,140 +21%
Home value $142,600 −16%
Population 2,281 −79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE COUNTY VS
McCook County
Income $83,852 +33%
Home value $230,100 +35%
Population 5,964 −46%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE COUNTY VS
Brookings County
Income $70,064 +11%
Home value $264,600 +55%
Population 37,635 +242%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Lake County, South Dakota? Lake County, South Dakota has about 11,059 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Lake County, South Dakota? The typical household in Lake County, South Dakota earns about $63,165 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 $170,300, and the typical rent is about $666 a month.
How educated are people in Lake County, South Dakota? About 33.1% 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 11.1% 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 509 residents, a change of about 5 percent over that period.
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