United States › South Dakota › Union County COUNTY
Union County South Dakota · 17,402 residents (2025 est.) · 461 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 17,081 people, Union County is a county in South Dakota. Few US counties rank higher on income. 4,497 more people live here than in 2000. The foreign-born share is 2%. There are 37 people per square mile. Getting to work takes 18 minutes on average.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.5
US median: 38.9
Average education
37% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 94%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 12,584 in 2000
17,402 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 30 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 36.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
9K 12K 14K 16K 18K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Union County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $89,636
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,790 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $24,355 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 33.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 5.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.469 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 6.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 6.2%
Professional, scientific, technical 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing 2.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.3%
Education & health services 1.1%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$301,100
+94%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $85,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,069
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $505 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 74.4% in 2000
26.9% rent
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.43 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 24.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.2 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 96%(12,081)
Hispanic / Latino 1.3%(158)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 88.4%(15,101)
Hispanic / Latino 4.8%(823)
from 16 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
from 20 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data from 26.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 87.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 8.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 84.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 3.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 69.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 78.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 33.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 10.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 5.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 77.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 91.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 86.9% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 97.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 1.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 27.5%(1,938)
Women 15+
Never married 18.9%(1,263)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 5.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 64.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 15.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 17.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 11.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 79.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 27.4% 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) 33.9%(332)
Share of the 979 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 Union County Head to head
Compare Union County to nearby counties UNION COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income $56,850 −37%
Home value $232,300 −23%
Population 15,031 −14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Plymouth County
Income $83,251 −7%
Home value $228,900 −24%
Population 25,697 +48%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Dixon County
Income $72,454 −19%
Home value $155,900 −48%
Population 5,602 −68%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Sioux County
Income $86,098 −4%
Home value $250,100 −17%
Population 36,774 +111%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Union County, South Dakota? Union County, South Dakota has about 17,081 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Union County, South Dakota? The typical household in Union County, South Dakota earns about $89,636 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Union County, South Dakota expensive? In Union County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $301,100, and the typical rent is about $1,069 a month.
How educated are people in Union County, South Dakota? About 37.0% of adults age 25 and over in Union County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Union County, South Dakota? About 6.2% of people in Union County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.
Has Union County, South Dakota grown since 1990? Yes, Union County, South Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 6,892 residents, a change of about 68 percent over that period.
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