Corson County, South Dakota Demographics 2026

Name: Corson County, South Dakota Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Corson County, South Dakota has a population of 3,806, the 42nd most populous county in South Dakota. The median household income is $46,406 and the median home value is $69,800. The poverty rate is 44.3%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Corson County Quick Facts

Population 3,806

Median Household Income $46,406

Median Home Value $69,800

Poverty Rate 44.3%

Unemployment Rate 23.5%

Median Age 29.9 years

Homeownership Rate 59.1%

Affordability Ratio 1.5x

Bachelor's Degree+ 19.0%

High School Graduation 86.1%

Cities/Places 7

Population 3,806 42nd of 66

Median Income $46,406 38% lower than state

Poverty Rate 44.3%

Unemployment 23.5%

How Corson 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	3,859	3,806	-1.4%
Median household income	$43,750	$46,406	+6.1%
Median home value	$73,800	$69,800	-5.4%

Median Household Income

Corson

$46,406

$75,081

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Corson

$69,800

$257,400

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 31.3%

$25K-$50K 20.0%

$50K-$100K 27.0%

$100K+ 21.7%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

9.5%

$10K-$15K

9.5%

$15K-$20K

5.6%

$20K-$25K

6.7%

$25K-$30K

6.4%

$30K-$35K

5.9%

$35K-$40K

3.0%

$40K-$45K

2.7%

$45K-$50K

2.0%

$50K-$60K

3.3%

$60K-$75K

10.2%

$75K-$100K

13.6%

$100K-$125K

6.3%

$125K-$150K

3.7%

$150K-$200K

4.9%

$200K+

6.8%

Employment

23.5% Unemployment Rate State: 2.9%|National: 5.2%

56.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 59.1%

Renter 40.9%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

1.5x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $496/mo 12.8% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

35.3%

18-34

20.1%

35-54

19.4%

55-74

21.0%

75+

4.2%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 35 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Corson County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
McLaughlin	683	$62,159	22.0%	$62,400
Bullhead	294	$32,589	67.0%	N/A
Little Eagle	275	$23,750	73.1%	N/A
Kenel	163	$68,750	31.3%	$102,500
Wakpala	144	$20,938	75.0%	$62,500
McIntosh	80	$97,500	7.5%	$45,800
Morristown	76	$45,000	22.4%	$23,100

Explore South Dakota Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Corson County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 3,806. It is the 42nd most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Corson County is 29.9 years. This is 21% lower than the state median of 38.0 years. With 35.3% of the population under 18, Corson County has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Corson County is $46,406. This is 38% lower than the state median of $75,081. It is also 43% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 44.3%. This is 271% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 23.5%. This is 704% higher than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $69,800. Housing costs are 73% lower than the state median of $257,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, Corson County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 59.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% lower than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Corson County is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 0.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (29.9%) is well below the state average of 79.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 4.8%.

Education

19.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 40% 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 86.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Corson 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 Corson County, South Dakota?

Corson County has a population of 3,806, making it the 42nd most populous county in South Dakota.

What is the median income in Corson County?

The median household income in Corson County is $46,406 with a poverty rate of 44.3%.

How many cities are in Corson County, South Dakota?

Corson County contains 7 Census-designated places.