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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Meade County

South Dakota · 29,852 residents · 3,471 sq mi
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The short version

Meade County is a county of 29,852 people in South Dakota. 2% of locals were born outside the United States. Owners hold 72% of the housing stock. 5,599 more people live here than in 2000. About 26% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The poverty rate is 6.3%, under the national 12.8%.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 36.7
US median: 38.8
Less educated
26% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 76%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

29,852
+23%since 2000
from 24,253 in 2000
1990 – 2025
36.7
+10%since 2000
from 33.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
3,471 sq mi
Population, 19902024
21K24K26K29K31K19902000201020202024Meade County
202431K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 56.6%(1,973)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.2%(2,136)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 147.7%(2,287)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.4%(1,910)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.9%(2,073)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.9%(3,858)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4412.7%(3,781)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5410.2%(3,031)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6413.3%(3,975)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7410.1%(3,005)
US avg: 10%
75 to 844.3%(1,297)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.8%(526)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$62,275
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,992 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$29,573
+67%since 2000
from $17,680 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
39.6%
+19.1 ptssince 2009
from 20.5% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
6.3%
−3.0 ptssince 2000
from 9.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information11.6%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade11.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7%
US avg: 1.7%
Other services6.1%
US avg: 6.6%
Construction5.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance5.2%
US avg: 5.5%
Public administration4.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Retail trade4.3%
US avg: 10%
Professional, scientific, technical3.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.5%
Manufacturing1.2%
US avg: 0.5%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$207,700
+76%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $78,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$952
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $468 in 2000
US average: $1,124
71.8%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 68.2% in 2000
28.2% rent
2.45 people
+6%since 2009
from 2.32 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
3.3
Unchangedsince 2009
from 3.3 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-Hispanic91.6%(22,212)
Black1.4%(346)
Hispanic / Latino2.1%(509)
Asian0.6%(152)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic84.7%(25,294)
Black1.4%(408)
Hispanic / Latino4.4%(1,301)
Asian0.9%(275)
Other5.8%(1,740)
21
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
Mexican3.7%(1,030)
Puerto Rican0.3%(87)
Spaniard0.1%(32)
Salvadoran0.1%(30)
Dominican0%(11)
Peruvian0%(11)
Cuban0%(7)
Asian origin
Filipino0.3%(95)
Japanese0.3%(88)
Chinese0.1%(42)
Vietnamese0.1%(41)
Laotian0%(11)
Korean0%(3)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.1%(28)
Ancestry
German33.7%(9,489)
Irish12%(3,390)
Norwegian9.5%(2,676)
English8.7%(2,435)
American5.1%(1,422)
Dutch3.2%(906)
Italian3.1%(868)
Scottish2.3%(634)
Swedish2.2%(610)
French1.6%(459)
Russian1.6%(456)
Polish1.6%(448)
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data
Danish1.2%(342)
Czech1.2%(338)
Welsh0.9%(242)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(136)
British0.3%(95)
Finnish0.3%(84)
West Indian0.2%(64)
Belgian0.2%(44)
Hungarian0.2%(44)
Swiss0.1%(39)
Portuguese0.1%(24)
Jamaican0.1%(22)
Canadian0.1%(15)
Ethiopian0.1%(15)
Slovene0%(12)
Nigerian0%(12)
Arab0%(3)
Section 05

Education

26.1%
+9.3 ptssince 2000
from 16.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
95.1%
+7.5 ptssince 2000
from 87.7% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
7.5%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 4.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

20.2 min
+69%since 2000
from 11.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
74.8%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 76.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
2.6%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

2.5%
−1.4 ptssince 2011
from 3.9% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
71.9%
+1.3 ptssince 2011
from 70.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
77.3%
US average: 73.3%
32.9%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 29.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

51.9%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
48.1%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
2.2%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
11.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2013
from 11.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
88.2%
US average: 91.9%
81.0%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married35.9%(4,775)
Married53.1%(7,064)
Widowed2%(266)
Divorced9.1%(1,209)
Women 15+
Never married25.7%(3,083)
Married59.4%(7,133)
Widowed5.3%(635)
Divorced9.7%(1,163)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

11.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2013
from 11.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
51.3%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
16.9%
US average: 13.7%
17.0%
US average: 17.6%
10.8%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
5.2%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
73.7%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
27.5%
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)39.2%(1,097)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)19.3%(540)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era26%(727)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War6.9%(193)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0.7%(21)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 2,801 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 Meade County, South Dakota?

Meade County, South Dakota has about 29,852 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Meade County, South Dakota earns about $62,275 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Meade County, South Dakota expensive?

In Meade County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $207,700, and the typical rent is about $952 a month.

How educated are people in Meade County, South Dakota?

About 26.1% of adults age 25 and over in Meade County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 6.3% of people in Meade County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Meade County, South Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Meade County, South Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 7,974 residents, a change of about 36 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 →