CensusEasy
COUNTY

Potter County

South Dakota · 2,377 residents (2025 est.) · 861.138 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
Notable rankings
#99Shortest commutesof 3,14314.2#124Lowest poverty rateof 3,1446.2%
The short version

Potter County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $72,045. Population has declined 11% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $121,300. With a median age of 49.9, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Poverty is rare here, at 6.2% of residents. It sits in the top 10% of US counties for household income.

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

Total population
2,388
−11%since 2000
from 2,693 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
3 / sq mi
+11%since 2009
from 2 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
49.9
+9%since 2000
from 45.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:2,377 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K3K3K3K1990201020202024Potter County
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55%(119)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.9%(164)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.6%(134)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.7%(136)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.1%(74)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410%(238)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.4%(249)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 547.6%(182)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415%(358)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7415.8%(377)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 849.5%(227)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over5.4%(130)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$72,045
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,086 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$39,966
+129%since 2000
from $17,417 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
49.1%
+32.7 ptssince 2009
from 16.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
6.2%
−6.4 ptssince 2000
from 12.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.409
−4%since 2010
from 0.426 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing26.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction26.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Information15.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services6.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration6.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance2.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Retail trade2.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$121,300
+53%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,008
+74%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $318 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
81.5%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 79.5% in 2000
18.5% rent
Vacancy rate
32.0%
−7.1 ptssince 2009
from 39.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
12.0%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
31.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 32.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.7
+20%since 2009
from 1.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
82
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Potter County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98%(2,640)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0.2%(5)
Asian0.2%(5)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic93.3%(2,227)
Black1.5%(37)
Hispanic / Latino0%(0)
Asian0.6%(15)
Other4.6%(109)
Diversity Score
16
+74%since 2009
from 9 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

Asian origin
Filipino0.6%(15)
Ancestry
German41%(978)
Irish6.9%(165)
Norwegian6%(144)
English4.6%(110)
American3.9%(94)
Swedish3%(71)
Danish2.8%(67)
French2%(48)
Dutch1.8%(43)
Polish1.8%(43)
Russian1.3%(30)
Czech0.8%(20)
+ 12 more ancestry groups with data
Scotch-Irish0.6%(15)
Scottish0.5%(12)
Welsh0.4%(9)
Greek0.3%(8)
Italian0.3%(7)
Jamaican0.2%(5)
British0.2%(4)
Austrian0.1%(3)
Ukrainian0.1%(2)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest English population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.2%
+11.0 ptssince 2000
from 16.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.3%
+15.5 ptssince 2000
from 80.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.4%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.2 min
+9%since 2000
from 13.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.1%
+5.9 ptssince 2009
from 71.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.2%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.0%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.7%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.6%
+1.8 ptssince 2011
from 0.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.5%
−1.6 ptssince 2011
from 63.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.3%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.0%
−26.5 ptssince 2009
from 64.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
Female
52.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.5% in 2009
Foreign born
1.3%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.3%
−41.6 ptssince 2009
from 46.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.2%
−4.2 ptssince 2012
from 16.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.3%
−88.3 ptssince 2013
from 92.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.0%
+15.1 ptssince 2017
from 72.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.2%
−1.9 ptssince 2016
from 99.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married22.5%(210)
Married64.8%(606)
Widowed2.4%(22)
Divorced10.4%(97)
Women 15+
Never married22.1%(229)
Married51.5%(534)
Widowed18.4%(191)
Divorced7.9%(82)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Potter County

Sheridan County
Pop 2,427
Hamilton County
Pop 2,500
Meagher County
Pop 2,137
Kiowa County
Pop 2,432
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%
Population1,479−38%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POTTER COUNTY VS
Walworth County
Income$65,026−10%
Home value$136,600+13%
Population5,217+119%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POTTER COUNTY VS
Faulk County
Income$57,750−20%
Home value$147,500+22%
Population2,178−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POTTER COUNTY VS
Hyde County
Income$73,472+2%
Home value$181,600+50%
Population1,191−50%
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

1 census tract
Census Tract 1
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 57442ZIP 57450ZIP 57455ZIP 57475
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 →