Pennington County, South Dakota Demographics 2026

Pennington County, South Dakota has a population of 112,081, the 2nd most populous county in South Dakota. The median household income is $70,768 and the median home value is $270,400. The poverty rate is 12.0%.

Pennington County Quick Facts

Population 112,081

Median Household Income $70,768

Median Home Value $270,400

Poverty Rate 12.0%

Unemployment Rate 3.3%

Median Age 39.7 years

Homeownership Rate 69.1%

Affordability Ratio 3.8x

Bachelor's Degree+ 34.1%

High School Graduation 94.7%

Cities/Places 9

Population 112,081 2nd of 66

Median Income $70,768 2% lower state

Poverty Rate 12.0%

Unemployment 3.3%

Median Household Income

Pennington

$70,768

$72,421

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Pennington

$270,400

$236,800

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 15.4%

$25K-$50K 19.7%

$50K-$100K 32.9%

$100K+ 32.0%

Employment

3.3% Unemployment Rate State: 3.0% | National: 5.2%

64.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 69.1%

Renter 30.9%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.8x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

22.2%

18-34

21.4%

35-54

22.5%

55-74

26.8%

75+

7.1%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 33 | National average: 60

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Pennington County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Rapid City city	76,836	$65,712	13.3%	$270,000
Box Elder city	12,457	$73,698	7.4%	$271,800
Hill City city	699	$85,714	3.9%	$246,700
New Underwood city	538	$54,167	23.5%	$188,700
Keystone town	404	$62,159	11.1%	$188,800
Hermosa town	296	$53,194	14.9%	$108,800
Fairview town	95	$69,464	17.9%	$129,200
Wasta town	77	$45,000	7.8%	$111,500
Quinn town	76	$95,795	0.0%	$104,200

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

Pennington County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 112,081. It is the 2nd most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Pennington County is 39.7 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 37.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Pennington County is $70,768. This is 2% lower than the state median of $72,421. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 10% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.0%. This is about average than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.3%. This is 11% higher than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $270,400. Housing costs are 14% higher than the state median of $236,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 69.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Pennington County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 78.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.5%.

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 94.7%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Pennington County, South Dakota?

Pennington County has a population of 112,081, making it the 2nd most populous county in South Dakota.

What is the median income in Pennington County?

The median household income in Pennington County is $70,768 with a poverty rate of 12.0%.

How many cities are in Pennington County, South Dakota?

Pennington County contains 9 Census-designated places.