Lincoln County, South Dakota Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Lincoln County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 68,286. It is the 3rd most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lincoln County is 35.8 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 37.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lincoln County is $96,552. This is 33% higher than the state median of $72,421. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 23% higher. The poverty rate stands at 5.8%. This is 52% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 1.6%. This is 48% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $323,500. Housing costs are 37% higher than the state median of $236,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 72.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Lincoln County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.9%.

Education

42.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Lincoln County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 37% 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 95.9%.