Hughes County, South Dakota Demographics 2026
Hughes County, South Dakota has a population of 17,664, the 12th most populous county in South Dakota. The median household income is $81,395 and the median home value is $242,000. The poverty rate is 9.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Hughes County Quick Facts
How Hughes 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 | 17,732 | 17,664 | -0.4% |
| Median household income | $78,981 | $81,395 | +3.1% |
| Median home value | $221,100 | $242,000 | +9.5% |
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 Hughes County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pierre | 13,948 | $77,672 | 10.1% | $230,700 |
| Oahe Acres | 399 | $78,750 | 6.3% | $277,100 |
| Blunt | 216 | $65,208 | 7.4% | $154,500 |
| Harrold | 72 | $58,750 | 6.9% | $77,500 |
Explore South Dakota Rankings
Population Overview
Hughes County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 17,664. 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 39.5 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 38.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Hughes County is $81,395. 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 9.2%. This is 23% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 1.0%. This is 67% lower than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $242,000. Housing costs are 6% lower than the state median of $257,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 72.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% 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 80.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.3%. The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 2.1%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.
Education
39.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Hughes County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 22% higher 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 96.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Hughes 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 Hughes County, South Dakota?
Hughes County has a population of 17,664, making it the 12th most populous county in South Dakota.
What is the median income in Hughes County?
The median household income in Hughes County is $81,395 with a poverty rate of 9.2%.
How many cities are in Hughes County, South Dakota?
Hughes County contains 4 Census-designated places.