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COUNTY

Sanborn County

South Dakota · 2,388 residents (2025 est.) · 569.242 sq mi
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Part of the Mitchell micropolitan area
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Notable rankings
#51Lowest unemploymentof 3,1440.6%
The short version

Sanborn County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $78,750. Population has declined 11% since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $135,600. It ranks in the top 5% of US counties for household income.

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

Total population
2,384
−11%since 2000
from 2,675 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
4 / sq mi
−3%since 2009
from 4 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
40.1
−2%since 2000
from 40.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:2,388 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K3K3K3K1990201020202024Sanborn 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

Median household income
$78,750
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,375 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$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%
Poverty rate
8.5%
−6.4 ptssince 2000
from 14.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
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

Median home value
$135,600
+104%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$725
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $301 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
78.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 77.9% in 2000
21.4% rent
Vacancy rate
19.0%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
11.6%
−7.4 ptssince 2009
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
29.7%
+9.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.7
+13%since 2009
from 1.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
79
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sanborn County on RentDataNow
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)
Diversity Score
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)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest English population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
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%
Graduate degree
6.7%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 3.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.2 min
+49%since 2000
from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.4%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 69.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.6%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
18.6%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.3%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.0%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
0.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2011
from 1.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
68.8%
+4.6 ptssince 2011
from 64.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.4%
+5.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
39.1%
−23.3 ptssince 2009
from 62.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
Female
47.1%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
Foreign born
1.7%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.3%
−43.8 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.9%
−1.4 ptssince 2012
from 13.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.3%
−85.1 ptssince 2013
from 90.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
80.5%
+4.4 ptssince 2017
from 76.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.1%
−3.0 ptssince 2016
from 98.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
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
Drill deeper

Places similar to Sanborn County

Kiowa County
Pop 2,432
Copper River Census Area
Pop 2,666
Sheridan County
Pop 2,427
Wichita County
Pop 2,031
Places similar to Sanborn County
Head to head

Compare Sanborn County to nearby counties

SANBORN COUNTY VS
Davison County
Income$66,208−16%
Home value$205,800+52%
Population20,069+740%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANBORN COUNTY VS
Miner County
Income$76,140−3%
Home value$142,600+5%
Population2,281−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANBORN COUNTY VS
Jerauld County
Income$73,750−6%
Home value$150,800+11%
Population1,654−31%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANBORN COUNTY VS
Hanson County
Income$81,071+3%
Home value$191,200+41%
Population3,456+45%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
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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Explore from here

1 census tract
Census Tract 9621
3 ZIP codes
ZIP 57385ZIP 57359ZIP 57314
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →