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COUNTY

Mellette County

South Dakota · 2,137 residents (2025 est.) · 1,307.311 sq mi
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The short version

Mellette County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $54,076. Population has declined 7% since 2000. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $84,100. The poverty rate of 41.7% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 28% less than the South Dakota median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 37.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 61%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,943
−7%since 2000
from 2,083 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1 / sq mi
−4%since 2009
from 2 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
37.5
+17%since 2000
from 32.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:2,137 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K2K2K1990201020202024Mellette County
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 58.3%(161)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.9%(154)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.2%(140)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.8%(133)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.7%(91)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411%(213)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.6%(245)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.7%(266)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6411.4%(221)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.1%(215)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.6%(89)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over0.8%(15)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$54,076
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $23,219 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,614
+147%since 2000
from $10,362 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
29.6%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 23.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
41.7%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 35.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.501
+9%since 2010
from 0.461 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing32.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction32.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade7.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Information3.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Finance & insurance1.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services0.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration0.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Retail trade0%
US avg: 9.9%
Professional, scientific, technical0%
US avg: 5.1%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$84,100
+61%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$708
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $279 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
60.4%
−4.3 ptssince 2000
from 64.7% in 2000
39.6% rent
Vacancy rate
17.7%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.3%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
17.3%
−10.5 ptssince 2009
from 27.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.6
+3%since 2009
from 1.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
49
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Mellette County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic44.5%(926)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(35)
Asian0.1%(2)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic34.7%(674)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(17)
Asian0%(0)
Other64.4%(1,252)
Diversity Score
58
−8%since 2009
from 63 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.9%(17)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German13%(252)
English7.1%(137)
American6.5%(126)
Czech2%(38)
French2%(38)
Irish2%(38)
Norwegian1.3%(26)
Russian0.9%(17)
Danish0.8%(16)
Swedish0.8%(16)
Swiss0.7%(13)
+ 1 more ancestry group with data
Dutch0.3%(5)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Czech population · Largest French population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.1%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 16.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
83.5%
+5.3 ptssince 2000
from 78.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.4%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 1.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.7 min
+2%since 2000
from 16.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
64.0%
+12.0 ptssince 2009
from 52.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
18.3%
+10.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
13.9%
−17.0 ptssince 2009
from 30.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.1%
−5.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.9%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
12.5%
−3.6 ptssince 2011
from 16.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.7%
−1.2 ptssince 2011
from 59.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
27.4%
−10.9 ptssince 2009
from 38.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
56.9%
−12.4 ptssince 2009
from 69.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Female
50.9%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Foreign born
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.6%
−41.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2012
from 17.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
25.0%
−55.7 ptssince 2013
from 80.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
74.4%
+33.7 ptssince 2017
from 40.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
80.9%
−7.7 ptssince 2016
from 88.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 0.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married46.7%(346)
Married37%(274)
Widowed2.7%(20)
Divorced13.6%(101)
Women 15+
Never married27.3%(204)
Married47%(351)
Widowed8.3%(62)
Divorced17.4%(130)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Mellette County

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Pop 2,186
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Pop 2,247
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Pop 2,325
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Pop 2,206
Places similar to Mellette County
Head to head

Compare Mellette County to nearby counties

MELLETTE COUNTY VS
Jones County
Income$65,119+20%
Home value$139,600+66%
Population913−57%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MELLETTE COUNTY VS
Todd County
Income$42,075−22%
Home value$53,900−36%
Population8,863+315%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MELLETTE COUNTY VS
Jackson County
Income$35,417−35%
Home value$117,300+39%
Population2,666+25%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MELLETTE COUNTY VS
Tripp County
Income$58,987+9%
Home value$132,900+58%
Population5,708+167%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Mellette County, South Dakota?

Mellette County, South Dakota has about 1,943 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Mellette County, South Dakota earns about $54,076 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Mellette County, South Dakota expensive?

In Mellette County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $84,100, and the typical rent is about $708 a month.

How educated are people in Mellette County, South Dakota?

About 19.1% of adults age 25 and over in Mellette County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 41.7% of people in Mellette County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Mellette County, South Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Mellette County, South Dakota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 194 residents, a change of about -9 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

1 census tract
Census Tract 9403
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 57579ZIP 57560ZIP 57521ZIP 57585
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →