Hand County, South Dakota Demographics 2026

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

Hand County, South Dakota has a population of 3,140, the 46th most populous county in South Dakota. The median household income is $74,635 and the median home value is $159,300. The poverty rate is 5.1%.

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

Hand County Quick Facts

Population 3,140

Median Household Income $74,635

Median Home Value $159,300

Poverty Rate 5.1%

Unemployment Rate 0.8%

Median Age 42.5 years

Homeownership Rate 65.5%

Affordability Ratio 2.1x

Bachelor's Degree+ 28.4%

High School Graduation 95.1%

Cities/Places 4

Population 3,140 46th of 66

Median Income $74,635 about the same as state

Poverty Rate 5.1%

Unemployment 0.8%

How Hand 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	3,045	3,140	+3.1%
Median household income	$72,054	$74,635	+3.6%
Median home value	$152,100	$159,300	+4.7%

Median Household Income

Hand

$74,635

$75,081

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Hand

$159,300

$257,400

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 15.7%

$25K-$50K 19.7%

$50K-$100K 28.6%

$100K+ 35.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

2.3%

$10K-$15K

3.3%

$15K-$20K

1.9%

$20K-$25K

8.3%

$25K-$30K

3.6%

$30K-$35K

5.0%

$35K-$40K

2.5%

$40K-$45K

4.6%

$45K-$50K

4.1%

$50K-$60K

6.8%

$60K-$75K

8.0%

$75K-$100K

13.8%

$100K-$125K

9.2%

$125K-$150K

11.3%

$150K-$200K

8.1%

$200K+

7.3%

Employment

0.8% Unemployment Rate State: 2.9%|National: 5.2%

67.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 65.5%

Renter 34.5%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.1x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $587/mo 9.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

25.3%

18-34

17.4%

35-54

19.9%

55-74

26.5%

75+

10.9%

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 Hand County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Miller	1,363	$57,500	7.6%	$155,200
St. Lawrence	172	$46,000	8.7%	$114,100
Millerdale Colony	90	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Ree Heights	38	$74,196	0.0%	$18,100

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

Hand County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 3,140. It is the 46th most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hand County is 42.5 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 38.0 years. 10.9% 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 Hand County is $74,635. This is about the same as the state median of $75,081. It is also 8% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 5.1%. This is 57% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 0.8%. This is 73% lower than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $159,300. Housing costs are 38% lower than the state median of $257,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Hand County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 65.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Hand County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.1%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 2.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 4.8%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.

Education

28.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 11% 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 95.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Hand 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 Hand County, South Dakota?

Hand County has a population of 3,140, making it the 46th most populous county in South Dakota.

What is the median income in Hand County?

The median household income in Hand County is $74,635 with a poverty rate of 5.1%.

How many cities are in Hand County, South Dakota?

Hand County contains 4 Census-designated places.