Lawrence County, South Dakota Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Lawrence County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 26,574. It is the 8th most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lawrence County is 43.8 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 37.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lawrence County is $66,766. This is 8% lower than the state median of $72,421. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 15% lower. The poverty rate stands at 11.8%. This is 2% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 2.3%. This is 25% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $310,800. Housing costs are 31% higher than the state median of $236,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.7x. 63.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% lower than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Lawrence County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.7%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.2%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.

Education

34.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 10% 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 95.4%.