Hamlin County, South Dakota Demographics 2026

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

Hamlin County, South Dakota has a population of 6,373, the 28th most populous county in South Dakota. The median household income is $87,101 and the median home value is $208,600. The poverty rate is 6.9%.

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

Hamlin County Quick Facts

Population 6,373

Median Household Income $87,101

Median Home Value $208,600

Poverty Rate 6.9%

Unemployment Rate 0.5%

Median Age 31.8 years

Homeownership Rate 82.0%

Affordability Ratio 2.4x

Bachelor's Degree+ 24.5%

High School Graduation 91.9%

Cities/Places 6

Population 6,373 28th of 66

Median Income $87,101 16% higher than state

Poverty Rate 6.9%

Unemployment 0.5%

How Hamlin 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	6,288	6,373	+1.4%
Median household income	$83,194	$87,101	+4.7%
Median home value	$207,700	$208,600	+0.4%

Median Household Income

Hamlin

$87,101

$75,081

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Hamlin

$208,600

$257,400

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 6.2%

$25K-$50K 18.5%

$50K-$100K 36.1%

$100K+ 39.2%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

1.6%

$10K-$15K

1.4%

$15K-$20K

1.6%

$20K-$25K

1.6%

$25K-$30K

3.7%

$30K-$35K

4.7%

$35K-$40K

1.4%

$40K-$45K

5.2%

$45K-$50K

3.5%

$50K-$60K

4.3%

$60K-$75K

11.3%

$75K-$100K

20.5%

$100K-$125K

17.8%

$125K-$150K

6.9%

$150K-$200K

6.7%

$200K+

7.9%

Employment

0.5% Unemployment Rate State: 2.9%|National: 5.2%

70.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 82.0%

Renter 18.0%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.4x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $800/mo 11.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

33.1%

18-34

20.1%

35-54

21.4%

55-74

19.5%

75+

5.8%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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 Hamlin County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Lake Norden	889	$75,688	6.3%	$192,600
Estelline	831	$78,438	7.6%	$142,200
Castlewood	804	$87,045	4.3%	$198,200
Bryant	727	$62,000	27.7%	$143,400
Hayti	444	$83,750	2.5%	$122,600
Hazel	199	$117,250	1.0%	$145,800

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

Hamlin County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 6,373. It is the 28th most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hamlin County is 31.8 years. This is 16% lower than the state median of 38.0 years. With 33.1% of the population under 18, Hamlin County has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Hamlin County is $87,101. This is 16% higher than the state median of $75,081. It is also 8% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 6.9%. This is 42% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 0.5%. This is 83% lower than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $208,600. Housing costs are 19% lower than the state median of $257,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Hamlin County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 82.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Hamlin County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.9%. The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 2.1%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.

Education

24.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 23% 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 91.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Hamlin 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 Hamlin County, South Dakota?

Hamlin County has a population of 6,373, making it the 28th most populous county in South Dakota.

What is the median income in Hamlin County?

The median household income in Hamlin County is $87,101 with a poverty rate of 6.9%.

How many cities are in Hamlin County, South Dakota?

Hamlin County contains 6 Census-designated places.