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Jones County, South Dakota Demographics 2026

Jones County, South Dakota has a population of 1,004, the 66th most populous county in South Dakota. The median household income is $65,119 and the median home value is $139,600. The poverty rate is 18.3%.

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

Jones County Quick Facts

Population 1,004
Median Household Income $65,119
Median Home Value $139,600
Poverty Rate 18.3%
Unemployment Rate 2.1%
Median Age 33.9 years
Homeownership Rate 76.3%
Affordability Ratio 2.1x
Bachelor's Degree+ 27.4%
High School Graduation 93.2%
Cities/Places 2
Population 1,004 66th of 66
Median Income $65,119 13% lower than state
Poverty Rate 18.3%
Unemployment 2.1%

How Jones County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population1,0301,004-2.5%
Median household income$64,688$65,119+0.7%
Median home value$117,100$139,600+19.2%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 18.7%
$25K-$50K 17.0%
$50K-$100K 33.3%
$100K+ 31.0%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
2.3%
$10K-$15K
6.1%
$15K-$20K
7.3%
$20K-$25K
2.9%
$25K-$30K
1.8%
$30K-$35K
3.8%
$35K-$40K
5.9%
$40K-$45K
4.7%
$45K-$50K
0.9%
$50K-$60K
11.7%
$60K-$75K
9.7%
$75K-$100K
12.0%
$100K-$125K
14.3%
$125K-$150K
4.1%
$150K-$200K
5.9%
$200K+
6.7%

Employment

2.1% Unemployment Rate State: 2.9%|National: 5.2%
64.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 76.3%
Renter 23.7%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.1x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $543/mo 10.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

33out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 35 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Jones County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Murdo599$67,04521.7%$132,400
Draper20$66,2500.0%N/A

Population Overview

Jones County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 1,004. It is the 66th most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Jones County is 33.9 years. This is 11% lower than the state median of 38.0 years. With 31.8% of the population under 18, Jones County has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Jones County is $65,119. This is 13% lower than the state median of $75,081. It is also 19% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 18.3%. This is 53% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 2.1%. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $139,600. Housing costs are 46% lower than the state median of $257,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Jones County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Jones County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 4.8%.

Education

27.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 14% 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 Jones 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 Jones County, South Dakota?

Jones County has a population of 1,004, making it the 66th most populous county in South Dakota.

What is the median income in Jones County?

The median household income in Jones County is $65,119 with a poverty rate of 18.3%.

How many cities are in Jones County, South Dakota?

Jones County contains 2 Census-designated places.