Aurora County, South Dakota Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Aurora County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 2,573. It is the 51st most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Aurora County is 42.4 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 37.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Aurora County is $74,130. This is 2% higher than the state median of $72,421. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 6% lower. The poverty rate stands at 8.4%. This is 30% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 0.7%. This is 76% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $129,000. Housing costs are 46% lower than the state median of $236,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Aurora County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Aurora County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.4%. The Black or African American population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 2.2%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.

Education

18.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 40% lower than the state rate of 31.1%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.1%.