CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Mellette County

South Dakota · 2,083 residents · 1,307.311 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Mellette County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $23,219. Population has held roughly steady since 1990. Median home value has more than doubled since 1990, reaching $28,700. The poverty rate of 35.8% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 34% less than the South Dakota median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 32.1
US median: 35.2
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 45%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,083
−3%since 1990
from 2,137 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
32.1
+5%since 1990
from 30.4 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K2K2K1990201020202024Mellette County
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 59%(188)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 910.6%(220)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 1410.5%(219)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 197.8%(163)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 244.8%(101)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.3%(235)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4413.3%(278)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5412%(249)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 647.5%(156)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 747.2%(149)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 844.1%(86)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.9%(39)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$23,219
+21%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $14,539 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$10,362
+49%since 1990
from $6,964 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
35.8%
−5.5 ptssince 1990
from 41.3% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$28,700
+45%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $15,000 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$279
−7%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $227 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
64.7%
−1.2 ptssince 1990
from 65.9% in 1990
35.3% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Mellette County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic53%(1,133)
Black0.1%(3)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(19)
Asian0.1%(3)
2000
White, non-Hispanic44.5%(926)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(35)
Asian0.1%(2)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

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
16.6%
+4.3 ptssince 1990
from 12.3% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
78.1%
+10.2 ptssince 1990
from 68.0% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
1.9%
−1.3 ptssince 1990
from 3.3% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.4 min
−56%since 1990
from 37.6 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married34.3%(252)
Married52.6%(386)
Widowed2.3%(17)
Divorced10.8%(79)
Women 15+
Never married28%(204)
Married50.4%(367)
Widowed12.4%(90)
Divorced9.2%(67)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Drill deeper

Places similar to Mellette County

Keweenaw County
Pop 2,186
Sedgwick County
Pop 2,247
Robertson County
Pop 2,325
Grant County
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+180%
Home value$139,600+386%
Population913−57%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MELLETTE COUNTY VS
Todd County
Income$42,075+81%
Home value$53,900+88%
Population8,863+315%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MELLETTE COUNTY VS
Jackson County
Income$35,417+53%
Home value$117,300+309%
Population2,666+25%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MELLETTE COUNTY VS
Tripp County
Income$58,987+154%
Home value$132,900+363%
Population5,708+167%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Mellette County, South Dakota?

Mellette County, South Dakota has about 2,083 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Mellette County, South Dakota earns about $23,219 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 $28,700, and the typical rent is about $279 a month.

How educated are people in Mellette County, South Dakota?

About 16.6% 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 35.8% 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 54 residents, a change of about -3 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

1 census tract
Census Tract 9403
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 57579ZIP 57560ZIP 57521ZIP 57585
Up the hierarchy
All counties in South Dakota
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

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

How we source and harmonize this data →