Lake County, South Dakota Demographics 2026
Lake County, South Dakota has a population of 10,972, the 16th most populous county in South Dakota. The median household income is $76,808 and the median home value is $247,600. The poverty rate is 8.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Lake County Quick Facts
How Lake 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 | 11,052 | 10,972 | -0.7% |
| Median household income | $73,792 | $76,808 | +4.1% |
| Median home value | $231,000 | $247,600 | +7.2% |
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 Lake County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | 6,094 | $65,593 | 9.5% | $193,100 |
| Lake Madison | 936 | $129,191 | 1.0% | $477,800 |
| Ramona | 538 | $78,750 | 26.2% | $85,800 |
| Brant Lake South | 211 | $107,983 | 6.2% | N/A |
| Chester | 152 | $68,333 | 0.0% | $147,500 |
| Wentworth | 138 | $62,188 | 13.8% | $83,300 |
| Brant Lake | 63 | $104,318 | 0.0% | $455,000 |
| Nunda | 40 | N/A | 27.5% | $118,800 |
| Winfred | 34 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
| Rustic Acres Colony | 30 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
Explore South Dakota Rankings
Population Overview
Lake County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 10,972. It is the 16th most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Lake County is 43.8 years. This is 15% higher than the state median of 38.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Lake County is $76,808. This is 2% higher than the state median of $75,081. It is also 5% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.4%. This is 30% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 2.9%. The median home value is $247,600. Housing costs are 4% lower than the state median of $257,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 73.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 68.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Lake County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.3%. The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.
Education
34.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 9% 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 93.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Lake 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 Lake County, South Dakota?
Lake County has a population of 10,972, making it the 16th most populous county in South Dakota.
What is the median income in Lake County?
The median household income in Lake County is $76,808 with a poverty rate of 8.4%.
How many cities are in Lake County, South Dakota?
Lake County contains 10 Census-designated places.