Day County, South Dakota Demographics 2026
Day County, South Dakota has a population of 5,437, the 32nd most populous county in South Dakota. The median household income is $66,033 and the median home value is $173,600. The poverty rate is 14.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Day County Quick Facts
How Day 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 | 5,460 | 5,437 | -0.4% |
| Median household income | $62,270 | $66,033 | +6.0% |
| Median home value | $155,100 | $173,600 | +11.9% |
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 Day County
Explore South Dakota Rankings
Population Overview
Day County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 5,437. It is the 32nd most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Day County is 44.8 years. This is 18% higher than the state median of 38.0 years. 11.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Day County is $66,033. This is 12% lower than the state median of $75,081. It is also 18% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.8%. This is 24% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 2.1%. This is 29% lower than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $173,600. Housing costs are 33% lower than the state median of $257,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Day County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 68.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Day County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.8%. The Black or African American population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 2.1%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.
Education
22.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 31% 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 93.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Day 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 Day County, South Dakota?
Day County has a population of 5,437, making it the 32nd most populous county in South Dakota.
What is the median income in Day County?
The median household income in Day County is $66,033 with a poverty rate of 14.8%.
How many cities are in Day County, South Dakota?
Day County contains 9 Census-designated places.