Butte County, South Dakota Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Butte County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 10,538. It is the 17th most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Butte County is 39.3 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 37.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Butte County is $67,692. This is 7% lower than the state median of $72,421. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 14% lower. The poverty rate stands at 7.2%. This is 40% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.1%. This is 35% higher than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $207,700. Housing costs are 12% lower than the state median of $236,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 80.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Butte County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.2%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.

Education

19.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% 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 88.3%.