Clay County, South Dakota Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Clay County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 15,133. It is the 14th most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clay County is 24.5 years. This is 35% lower than the state median of 37.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Clay County is $58,794. This is 19% lower than the state median of $72,421. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 25% lower. The poverty rate stands at 19.8%. This is 65% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 8.4%. This is 179% higher than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $221,800. Housing costs are 6% lower than the state median of $236,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 51.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% lower than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Clay County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.2%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (3.0% vs 1.4%).

Education

46.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Clay County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 48% higher 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 93.9%. Notably, 21.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.