United States › South Dakota › Stanley County COUNTY
Stanley County South Dakota · 3,018 residents (2025 est.) · 1,444 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 3,015 people, Stanley County is a county in South Dakota. 83% of homes are owner-occupied. That puts it in the top 3% of US counties for household income. Density works out to 2 people per square mile. The median age is 44.5, about 6 years above the US median. The foreign-born share is 1%.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 49%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 2,772 in 2000
3,018 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 2 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 37.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K 3K 3K 3K 3K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Stanley County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $87,712
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,170 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $20,300 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 27.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 8.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.422 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 9.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.3%
Education & health services 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$203,500
+49%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $75,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$952
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $440 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 76.4% in 2000
16.9% rent
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.32 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 53.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.1 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 92.9%(2,575)
Hispanic / Latino 0.4%(12)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 87.9%(2,651)
Hispanic / Latino 2.2%(66)
from 24 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
+ 10 more ancestry groups with data from 22.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 87.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 5.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 10.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 77.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 3.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 78.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 90.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 31.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 12.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 12.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 84.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 87.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 86.7% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 96.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 2.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 12.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 63.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 18.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 23.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 8.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.7% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 80.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 31.3% 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) 21.2%(29)
Gulf War (1990s) 23.4%(32)
Share of the 137 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 Stanley County Head to head
Compare Stanley County to nearby counties STANLEY COUNTY VS
Jones County
Income $65,119 −26%
Home value $139,600 −31%
Population 913 −70%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STANLEY COUNTY VS
Sully County
Income $72,578 −17%
Home value $205,400 +1%
Population 1,479 −51%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STANLEY COUNTY VS
Hughes County
Income $81,395 −7%
Home value $242,000 +19%
Population 17,570 +482%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STANLEY COUNTY VS
Haakon County
Income $65,625 −25%
Home value $164,200 −19%
Population 1,802 −40%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Stanley County, South Dakota? Stanley County, South Dakota has about 3,015 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Stanley County, South Dakota? The typical household in Stanley County, South Dakota earns about $87,712 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Stanley County, South Dakota expensive? In Stanley County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $203,500, and the typical rent is about $952 a month.
How educated are people in Stanley County, South Dakota? About 28.2% of adults age 25 and over in Stanley County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Stanley County, South Dakota? About 5.1% of people in Stanley County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.
Has Stanley County, South Dakota grown since 1990? Yes, Stanley County, South Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 562 residents, a change of about 23 percent over that period.
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