Mellette County, South Dakota Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Mellette County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 1,943. It is the 58th most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Mellette County is 37.5 years. This is 1% lower than the state median of 38.0 years. With 28.7% of the population under 18, Mellette County has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Mellette County is $54,076. This is 28% lower than the state median of $75,081. It is also 33% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 41.7%. This is 250% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 12.5%. This is 326% higher than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $84,100. Housing costs are 67% lower than the state median of $257,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x, Mellette County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 60.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% lower than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Mellette County is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 0.9%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (34.7%) is well below the state average of 79.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 4.8%.

Education

19.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 40% 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 83.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Mellette 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.