Hanson County, South Dakota Demographics 2026

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

Hanson County, South Dakota has a population of 3,472, the 44th most populous county in South Dakota. The median household income is $81,071 and the median home value is $191,200. The poverty rate is 7.0%.

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

Hanson County Quick Facts

Population 3,472

Median Household Income $81,071

Median Home Value $191,200

Poverty Rate 7.0%

Unemployment Rate 1.8%

Median Age 38.3 years

Homeownership Rate 89.4%

Affordability Ratio 2.4x

Bachelor's Degree+ 22.5%

High School Graduation 93.2%

Cities/Places 7

Population 3,472 44th of 66

Median Income $81,071 8% higher than state

Poverty Rate 7.0%

Unemployment 1.8%

How Hanson 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	3,473	3,472	-0.0%
Median household income	$86,375	$81,071	-6.1%
Median home value	$192,400	$191,200	-0.6%

Median Household Income

Hanson

$81,071

$75,081

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Hanson

$191,200

$257,400

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 8.9%

$25K-$50K 18.8%

$50K-$100K 29.9%

$100K+ 42.3%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

1.9%

$10K-$15K

1.6%

$15K-$20K

3.7%

$20K-$25K

1.7%

$25K-$30K

2.6%

$30K-$35K

4.4%

$35K-$40K

2.6%

$40K-$45K

2.4%

$45K-$50K

6.9%

$50K-$60K

5.9%

$60K-$75K

13.2%

$75K-$100K

10.9%

$100K-$125K

13.9%

$125K-$150K

10.9%

$150K-$200K

10.1%

$200K+

7.4%

Employment

1.8% Unemployment Rate State: 2.9%|National: 5.2%

70.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 89.4%

Renter 10.6%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.4x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $782/mo 11.6% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

28.7%

18-34

17.1%

35-54

24.0%

55-74

26.4%

75+

3.8%

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 Hanson County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Alexandria	692	$102,679	3.3%	$180,200
Emery	539	$67,321	6.7%	$152,400
Fulton	84	$56,667	11.9%	$154,200
Millbrook Colony	47	N/A	57.5%	N/A
Oak Lane Colony	34	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Farmer	31	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Rockport Colony	23	N/A	0.0%	N/A

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

Hanson County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 3,472. It is the 44th most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hanson County is 38.3 years. This is about the same as the state median of 38.0 years. With 28.7% of the population under 18, Hanson County has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Hanson County is $81,071. This is 8% higher than the state median of $75,081. It is also about the same as the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.0%. This is 41% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 1.8%. This is 39% lower than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $191,200. Housing costs are 26% lower than the state median of $257,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Hanson County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 89.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 30% higher than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Hanson County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.4%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 4.8%.

Education

22.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% 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 93.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Hanson 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 Hanson County, South Dakota?

Hanson County has a population of 3,472, making it the 44th most populous county in South Dakota.

What is the median income in Hanson County?

The median household income in Hanson County is $81,071 with a poverty rate of 7.0%.

How many cities are in Hanson County, South Dakota?

Hanson County contains 7 Census-designated places.