Butte County, South Dakota Demographics 2026
Butte County, South Dakota has a population of 10,676, the 17th most populous county in South Dakota. The median household income is $75,652 and the median home value is $244,600. The poverty rate is 8.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Butte County Quick Facts
How Butte County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,538 | 10,676 | +1.3% |
| Median household income | $67,692 | $75,652 | +11.8% |
| Median home value | $207,700 | $244,600 | +17.8% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 35 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Butte County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belle Fourche | 5,804 | $65,071 | 10.6% | $222,500 |
| Newell | 378 | $84,792 | 6.6% | $141,300 |
| Fruitdale | 134 | $17,450 | 57.5% | $164,400 |
| Nisland | 109 | $26,979 | 12.8% | $87,100 |
| Vale | 73 | $40,455 | 6.9% | $50,400 |
Explore South Dakota Rankings
Population Overview
Butte County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 10,676. It is the 17th most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Butte County is 40.2 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 38.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Butte County is $75,652. This is about the same as the state median of $75,081. It is also 6% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.6%. This is 28% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 1.8%. This is 39% lower than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $244,600. Housing costs are 5% lower than the state median of $257,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 76.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% 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 4.3%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.
Education
19.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% lower than the state rate of 31.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Butte County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against South Dakota and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Butte County, South Dakota?
Butte County has a population of 10,676, making it the 17th most populous county in South Dakota.
What is the median income in Butte County?
The median household income in Butte County is $75,652 with a poverty rate of 8.6%.
How many cities are in Butte County, South Dakota?
Butte County contains 5 Census-designated places.