Hughes County, South Dakota Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Hughes County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 17,732. It is the 12th most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hughes County is 39.3 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 37.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Hughes County is $78,981. This is 9% higher than the state median of $72,421. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is about average. The poverty rate stands at 9.2%. This is 23% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 0.6%. This is 80% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $221,100. Housing costs are 7% lower than the state median of $236,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Hughes County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Hughes County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.1%. The Black or African American population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 2.2%.

Education

35.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Hughes County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 16% higher than the state rate of 31.1%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.1%.