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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

McPherson County

South Dakota · 2,411 residents · 1,137 sq mi
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The short version

With 2,411 people, McPherson County is a county in South Dakota. At a median age of 51.6, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $62,600. 80% of homes are owner-occupied. The foreign-born share is 1%. Renters pay $493 a month at the median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 51.6
US median: 38.8
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 57%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

2,411
−17%since 2000
from 2,904 in 2000
1990 – 2025
51.6
+8%since 2000
from 47.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
1,137 sq mi
Population, 19902024
2K2K3K3K3K19902000201020202024McPherson County
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.3%(128)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.5%(133)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.1%(146)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.2%(126)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.1%(100)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.3%(248)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 448.1%(195)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5410%(240)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6416.3%(392)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7414.9%(359)
US avg: 10%
75 to 848.3%(201)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over5.9%(143)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$51,379
+53%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,380 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$31,765
+149%since 2000
from $12,748 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
33.9%
+19.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
10.6%
−12.1 ptssince 2000
from 22.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing22.9%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction22.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade11.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Information7.9%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade7.7%
US avg: 10%
Other services4.6%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration4.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Finance & insurance3.4%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.9%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$62,600
+57%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$493
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $253 in 2000
US average: $1,124
79.9%
−3.2 ptssince 2000
from 83.1% in 2000
20.1% rent
2.18 people
−3%since 2009
from 2.25 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
1.2
−11%since 2009
from 1.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
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-Hispanic99.2%(2,880)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0.2%(6)
Asian0.1%(4)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic93.9%(2,265)
Black0.1%(3)
Hispanic / Latino2.2%(53)
Asian0.1%(3)
Other0.7%(17)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.9%(43)
Asian origin
Filipino0.6%(14)
Chinese0.3%(6)
Ancestry
German61.7%(1,428)
Russian12.2%(283)
Irish9.6%(223)
Norwegian7.8%(180)
English6.2%(143)
Swedish4.6%(106)
American1.4%(32)
Dutch0.9%(22)
French0.9%(22)
Croatian0.8%(18)
British0.6%(13)
Austrian0.5%(12)
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data
Ukrainian0.5%(11)
Czech0.4%(9)
Finnish0.3%(8)
Danish0.3%(7)
Scottish0.3%(7)
Polish0.3%(6)
Swiss0.2%(4)
Section 05

Education

23.5%
+12.8 ptssince 2000
from 10.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
84.3%
+25.5 ptssince 2000
from 58.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
5.7%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 2.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

17.4 min
+29%since 2000
from 13.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
69.9%
+7.6 ptssince 2009
from 62.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
3.6%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

1.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2011
from 2.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
59.1%
+6.2 ptssince 2011
from 52.9% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
80.9%
US average: 73.3%
43.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 42.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

47.9%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
52.1%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
1.5%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
7.3%
−3.8 ptssince 2013
from 11.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
76.1%
US average: 91.9%
93.2%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married22.7%(205)
Married58.8%(532)
Widowed6%(54)
Divorced12.5%(113)
Women 15+
Never married19.3%(177)
Married64.8%(595)
Widowed10.3%(95)
Divorced5.6%(51)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

7.3%
−3.8 ptssince 2013
from 11.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
42.3%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
28.4%
US average: 13.7%
29.0%
US average: 17.6%
12.4%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
6.2%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
72.3%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
37.6%
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)5.3%(9)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)19.4%(33)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era31.2%(53)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War3.5%(6)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II5.9%(10)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 170 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in McPherson County, South Dakota?

McPherson County, South Dakota has about 2,411 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in McPherson County, South Dakota earns about $51,379 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is McPherson County, South Dakota expensive?

In McPherson County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $62,600, and the typical rent is about $493 a month.

How educated are people in McPherson County, South Dakota?

About 23.5% of adults age 25 and over in McPherson County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 10.6% of people in McPherson County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has McPherson County, South Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, McPherson County, South Dakota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 817 residents, a change of about -25 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →