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Lincoln County, South Dakota Demographics 2026

Lincoln County, South Dakota has a population of 70,638, the 3rd most populous county in South Dakota. The median household income is $99,166 and the median home value is $348,300. The poverty rate is 5.6%.

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

Lincoln County Quick Facts

Population 70,638
Median Household Income $99,166
Median Home Value $348,300
Poverty Rate 5.6%
Unemployment Rate 1.7%
Median Age 35.9 years
Homeownership Rate 71.2%
Affordability Ratio 3.5x
Bachelor's Degree+ 44.5%
High School Graduation 96.5%
Cities/Places 9
Population 70,638 3rd of 66
Median Income $99,166 32% higher than state
Poverty Rate 5.6%
Unemployment 1.7%

How Lincoln 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
Population68,28670,638+3.4%
Median household income$96,552$99,166+2.7%
Median home value$323,500$348,300+7.7%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 6.3%
$25K-$50K 13.4%
$50K-$100K 31.1%
$100K+ 49.2%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
2.2%
$10K-$15K
1.1%
$15K-$20K
1.1%
$20K-$25K
1.9%
$25K-$30K
1.6%
$30K-$35K
2.3%
$35K-$40K
3.0%
$40K-$45K
3.3%
$45K-$50K
3.2%
$50K-$60K
6.2%
$60K-$75K
8.6%
$75K-$100K
16.3%
$100K-$125K
13.7%
$125K-$150K
9.2%
$150K-$200K
13.0%
$200K+
13.3%

Employment

1.7% Unemployment Rate State: 2.9%|National: 5.2%
75.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 71.2%
Renter 28.8%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.5x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,260/mo 15.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

20out of 100
Very 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 Lincoln County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Harrisburg8,519$108,7240.5%$312,200
Tea6,786$120,1394.7%$351,100
Canton3,033$60,8508.1%$191,400
Lennox2,468$81,7619.7%$235,900
Beresford2,360$78,7935.2%$234,400
Worthing1,036$93,1621.8%$220,200
Shindler579$146,1540.0%$617,600
Hudson382$66,42917.0%$150,500
Fairview102$71,71918.6%$155,400

Population Overview

Lincoln County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 70,638. It is the 3rd most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lincoln County is 35.9 years. This is 6% lower than the state median of 38.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lincoln County is $99,166. This is 32% higher than the state median of $75,081. It is also 23% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 5.6%. This is 53% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 1.7%. This is 43% lower than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $348,300. Housing costs are 35% higher than the state median of $257,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 71.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Lincoln County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.1%.

Education

44.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Lincoln County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 39% 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 96.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Lincoln 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 Lincoln County, South Dakota?

Lincoln County has a population of 70,638, making it the 3rd most populous county in South Dakota.

What is the median income in Lincoln County?

The median household income in Lincoln County is $99,166 with a poverty rate of 5.6%.

How many cities are in Lincoln County, South Dakota?

Lincoln County contains 9 Census-designated places.