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COUNTY

Sanborn County

South Dakota · 2,388 residents (2025 est.) · 569 sq mi
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The short version

Sanborn County is a county of 2,384 people in South Dakota. Few US counties rank higher on income. Density works out to 4 people per square mile. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Home values have more than tripled since 2000, reaching $135,600. 79% of homes are owner-occupied.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 104%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

2,384
−11%since 2000
from 2,675 in 2000
2,388 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
4 / sq mi
−3%since 2009
from 4 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
40.1
−2%since 2000
from 40.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
569 sq mi
Population, 19902024
2K2K3K3K3K19902000201020202024Sanborn County
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 57.4%(177)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.8%(187)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.7%(135)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.2%(171)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.5%(108)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.9%(260)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.2%(314)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549%(214)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.1%(336)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413.1%(312)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.4%(105)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.7%(65)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$78,750
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,375 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
$36,781
+101%since 2000
from $18,301 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
52.0%
+29.2 ptssince 2009
from 22.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
8.5%
−6.4 ptssince 2000
from 14.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
0.399
+3%since 2010
from 0.387 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing13.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction13.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade12.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance7.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Information5.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade4.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration4.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing4.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$135,600
+104%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
$725
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $301 in 2000
US average: $1,442
78.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 77.9% in 2000
21.4% rent
19.0%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.47 people
+11%since 2009
from 2.23 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
11.6%
−7.4 ptssince 2009
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
29.7%
+9.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
1.7
+13%since 2009
from 1.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
79
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98%(2,621)
Black0%(1)
Hispanic / Latino1%(27)
Asian0.4%(10)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic90.2%(2,150)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino5.2%(123)
Asian0%(0)
Other4.7%(111)
23
+187%since 2009
from 8 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
Mexican2.8%(66)
Guatemalan0.9%(21)
Puerto Rican0.8%(19)
Ancestry
German41.9%(1,000)
Irish12%(286)
Norwegian11.8%(282)
English7.2%(172)
American7%(167)
Dutch3.8%(91)
French2.2%(52)
Swiss2.1%(50)
Swedish1.9%(45)
Polish1.7%(41)
Czech1.7%(40)
Danish1.5%(36)
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data
Romanian1.3%(32)
Belgian1.1%(27)
Russian0.3%(6)
Welsh0.3%(6)
Austrian0.2%(5)
Scottish0.2%(4)
Section 05

Education

21.3%
+6.5 ptssince 2000
from 14.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.9%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 82.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
6.7%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 3.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

21.2 min
+49%since 2000
from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
72.4%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 69.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
4.6%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
0.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
18.6%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
4.3%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
7.0%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

0.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2011
from 1.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
68.8%
+4.6 ptssince 2011
from 64.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
85.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2020
from 86.3% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
17.4%
+5.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
39.1%
+11.2 ptssince 2009
from 27.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

52.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
47.1%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
1.7%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
6.3%
−7.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
11.9%
−1.4 ptssince 2012
from 13.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
5.3%
−4.3 ptssince 2013
from 9.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
80.5%
+4.4 ptssince 2017
from 76.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
88.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2020
from 88.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
96.3%
+2.5 ptssince 2020
from 93.7% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
95.1%
−3.0 ptssince 2016
from 98.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
2.2%
+0.8 ptssince 2016
from 1.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married29.6%(289)
Married56.2%(548)
Widowed4.8%(47)
Divorced9.3%(91)
Women 15+
Never married21.8%(198)
Married57.7%(525)
Widowed11.3%(103)
Divorced9.2%(84)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

5.3%
−4.3 ptssince 2013
from 9.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
55.4%
+3.6 ptssince 2020
from 51.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
24.1%
−1.8 ptssince 2020
from 25.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
20.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2020
from 19.7% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
10.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2020
from 11.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2020
from 2.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
75.7%
−1.0 ptssince 2020
from 76.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
29.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2020
from 29.8% 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)18%(20)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)27%(30)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era39.6%(44)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War9.9%(11)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 111 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
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Sanborn County, South Dakota?

Sanborn County, South Dakota has about 2,384 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Sanborn County, South Dakota earns about $78,750 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sanborn County, South Dakota expensive?

In Sanborn County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $135,600, and the typical rent is about $725 a month.

How educated are people in Sanborn County, South Dakota?

About 21.3% of adults age 25 and over in Sanborn County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 8.5% of people in Sanborn County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sanborn County, South Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Sanborn County, South Dakota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 449 residents, a change of about -16 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →