Lake County, South Dakota Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Lake County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 11,052. It is the 16th most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lake County is 43.7 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 37.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lake County is $73,792. This is 2% higher than the state median of $72,421. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 6% lower. The poverty rate stands at 9.4%. This is 22% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 2.4%. This is 20% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $231,000. Housing costs are 2% lower than the state median of $236,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 71.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Lake County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.1%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 2.2%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.

Education

34.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Lake County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 11% 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 93.7%.