McPherson County, South Dakota Demographics 2026

Name: McPherson County, South Dakota Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

McPherson County, South Dakota has a population of 2,145, the 56th most populous county in South Dakota. The median household income is $66,906 and the median home value is $85,600. The poverty rate is 12.9%.

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

McPherson County Quick Facts

Population 2,145

Median Household Income $66,906

Median Home Value $85,600

Poverty Rate 12.9%

Unemployment Rate 1.1%

Median Age 50.0 years

Homeownership Rate 81.3%

Affordability Ratio 1.3x

Bachelor's Degree+ 26.5%

High School Graduation 83.4%

Cities/Places 6

Population 2,145 56th of 66

Median Income $66,906 11% lower than state

Poverty Rate 12.9%

Unemployment 1.1%

How McPherson 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	2,278	2,145	-5.8%
Median household income	$62,024	$66,906	+7.9%
Median home value	$78,400	$85,600	+9.2%

Median Household Income

McPherson

$66,906

$75,081

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

McPherson

$85,600

$257,400

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 16.1%

$25K-$50K 21.2%

$50K-$100K 31.6%

$100K+ 31.1%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.4%

$10K-$15K

6.8%

$15K-$20K

2.8%

$20K-$25K

3.1%

$25K-$30K

4.7%

$30K-$35K

3.3%

$35K-$40K

4.4%

$40K-$45K

2.3%

$45K-$50K

6.6%

$50K-$60K

5.3%

$60K-$75K

13.4%

$75K-$100K

12.9%

$100K-$125K

7.1%

$125K-$150K

7.6%

$150K-$200K

8.4%

$200K+

8.0%

Employment

1.1% Unemployment Rate State: 2.9%|National: 5.2%

56.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 81.3%

Renter 18.7%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

1.3x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $594/mo 10.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

19.3%

18-34

16.9%

35-54

16.0%

55-74

31.9%

75+

15.8%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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 McPherson County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Eureka	778	$47,583	15.2%	$78,200
Leola	381	$71,250	6.3%	$65,400
Spring Creek Colony	209	N/A	60.9%	N/A
Grassland Colony	15	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Long Lake	14	$61,042	7.1%	$43,300
Wetonka	7	N/A	0.0%	N/A

Explore South Dakota Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

McPherson County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 2,145. It is the 56th most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in McPherson County is 50.0 years. This is 32% higher than the state median of 38.0 years. 15.8% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in McPherson County is $66,906. This is 11% lower than the state median of $75,081. It is also 17% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.9%. This is 8% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 1.1%. This is 63% lower than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $85,600. Housing costs are 67% lower than the state median of $257,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.3x, McPherson County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 81.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% higher than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

McPherson County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 0.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 4.8%.

Education

26.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 17% lower 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 83.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for McPherson 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 McPherson County, South Dakota?

McPherson County has a population of 2,145, making it the 56th most populous county in South Dakota.

What is the median income in McPherson County?

The median household income in McPherson County is $66,906 with a poverty rate of 12.9%.

How many cities are in McPherson County, South Dakota?

McPherson County contains 6 Census-designated places.