United States › South Dakota › Potter County COUNTY
Potter County South Dakota · 2,377 residents (2025 est.) · 861 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 2,388 people, Potter County is a county in South Dakota. The median age is 49.9, about 11 years above the US median. Few US counties rank higher on income. 82% of homes are owner-occupied. Density works out to 3 people per square mile. The typical home is worth $121,300, having more than doubled since 2000.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 49.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 53%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 2,693 in 2000
2,377 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 2 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 45.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K 2K 3K 3K 3K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Potter County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $72,045
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,086 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $17,417 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 16.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 12.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.426 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 26.8%
Public administration 6.3%
Transportation & warehousing 2.8%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.4%
Education & health services 0.5%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$121,300
+53%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,008
+74%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $318 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 79.5% in 2000
18.5% rent
from 39.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.04 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 32.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 1.4 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 98%(2,640)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 93.3%(2,227)
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 16.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 80.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 71.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 0.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 63.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 75.9% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 34.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 16.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 7.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 72.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 89.2% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 96.2% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 99.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 7.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 47.7% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 34.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 26.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 11.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 5.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 78.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 37.8% 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) 10%(10)
Share of the 100 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
Drill deeper
Places similar to Potter County Head to head
Compare Potter County to nearby counties POTTER COUNTY VS
Sully County
Income $72,578 +1%
Home value $205,400 +69%
Population 1,479 −38%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POTTER COUNTY VS
Walworth County
Income $65,026 −10%
Home value $136,600 +13%
Population 5,217 +119%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POTTER COUNTY VS
Faulk County
Income $57,750 −20%
Home value $147,500 +22%
Population 2,178 −8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POTTER COUNTY VS
Hyde County
Income $73,472 +2%
Home value $181,600 +50%
Population 1,191 −50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Potter County, South Dakota? Potter County, South Dakota has about 2,388 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Potter County, South Dakota? The typical household in Potter County, South Dakota earns about $72,045 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Potter County, South Dakota expensive? In Potter County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $121,300, and the typical rent is about $1,008 a month.
How educated are people in Potter County, South Dakota? About 27.2% of adults age 25 and over in Potter County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Potter County, South Dakota? About 6.2% of people in Potter County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.
Has Potter County, South Dakota grown since 1990? Yes, Potter County, South Dakota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 802 residents, a change of about -25 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here 