United States › South Dakota › Perkins County COUNTY
Perkins County South Dakota · 2,853 residents (2025 est.) · 2,870 sq mi
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The short version
Perkins County is home to 3,001 people in South Dakota. There are 1 people per square mile. The typical home is worth $114,600, having roughly tripled since 2000. The median age is 44.0, about 5 years above the US median. Owners hold 78% of the housing stock. 1% of people here were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 84%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 3,363 in 2000
2,853 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 1 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 43.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
3K 3K 3K 4K 4K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Perkins County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $66,908
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,750 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $15,734 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 18.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 16.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.547 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 31.4%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.5%
Public administration 2.5%
Education & health services 1.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.7%
Transportation & warehousing 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$114,600
+84%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$738
+38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $293 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 76.6% in 2000
21.6% rent
from 25.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.06 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 17.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 1.5 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.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 96.5%(3,245)
Hispanic / Latino 0.7%(25)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 92%(2,762)
Hispanic / Latino 1.1%(32)
from 9 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 12 more ancestry groups with data from 14.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 80.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 3.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 60.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 16.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 1.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 63.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 89.3% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 44.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 15.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 13.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 72.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 89.0% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 93.0% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 97.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 1.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 13.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 38.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 36.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 25.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 12.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 4.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 74.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 34.1% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
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, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 15.9%(36)
Gulf War (1990s) 12.8%(29)
Share of the 226 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 Perkins County Head to head
Compare Perkins County to nearby counties PERKINS COUNTY VS
Adams County
Income $62,500 −7%
Home value $113,200 −1%
Population 2,275 −20%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PERKINS COUNTY VS
Harding County
Income $80,441 +20%
Home value $166,100 +45%
Population 1,331 −53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PERKINS COUNTY VS
Ziebach County
Income $53,958 −19%
Home value $99,600 −13%
Population 2,389 −16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PERKINS COUNTY VS
Meade County
Income $74,790 +12%
Home value $310,900 +171%
Population 30,711 +976%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Perkins County, South Dakota? Perkins County, South Dakota has about 3,001 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Perkins County, South Dakota? The typical household in Perkins County, South Dakota earns about $66,908 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Perkins County, South Dakota expensive? In Perkins County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $114,600, and the typical rent is about $738 a month.
How educated are people in Perkins County, South Dakota? About 24.9% of adults age 25 and over in Perkins County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Perkins County, South Dakota? About 13.7% of people in Perkins County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.
Has Perkins County, South Dakota grown since 1990? Yes, Perkins County, South Dakota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 931 residents, a change of about -24 percent over that period.
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