Union County, South Dakota Demographics 2026

Union County, South Dakota has a population of 16,916, the 13th most populous county in South Dakota. The median household income is $84,137 and the median home value is $269,500. The poverty rate is 7.3%.

Union County Quick Facts

Population 16,916

Median Household Income $84,137

Median Home Value $269,500

Poverty Rate 7.3%

Unemployment Rate 3.5%

Median Age 40.4 years

Homeownership Rate 71.3%

Affordability Ratio 3.2x

Bachelor's Degree+ 36.5%

High School Graduation 94.9%

Cities/Places 5

Population 16,916 13th of 66

Median Income $84,137 16% higher state

Poverty Rate 7.3%

Unemployment 3.5%

Median Household Income

Union

$84,137

$72,421

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Union

$269,500

$236,800

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 11.4%

$25K-$50K 16.8%

$50K-$100K 30.6%

$100K+ 41.2%

Employment

3.5% Unemployment Rate State: 3.0% | National: 5.2%

67.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 71.3%

Renter 28.7%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.2x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

24.2%

18-34

19.1%

35-54

24.9%

55-74

24.8%

75+

7.1%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very 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 Union County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
North Sioux City city	3,018	$76,481	13.5%	$234,500
Beresford city	2,437	$71,017	5.6%	$219,800
Elk Point city	2,391	$83,250	7.2%	$228,400
Alcester city	987	$58,661	12.1%	$114,400
Jefferson city	717	$81,149	3.2%	$177,900

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

Union County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 16,916. It is the 13th most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Union County is 40.4 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 37.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Union County is $84,137. This is 16% higher than the state median of $72,421. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 7% higher. The poverty rate stands at 7.3%. This is 39% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.5%. This is 18% higher than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $269,500. Housing costs are 14% higher than the state median of $236,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 71.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Union County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.4%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 2.2%.

Education

36.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Union County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 17% 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 94.9%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Union County, South Dakota?

Union County has a population of 16,916, making it the 13th most populous county in South Dakota.

What is the median income in Union County?

The median household income in Union County is $84,137 with a poverty rate of 7.3%.

How many cities are in Union County, South Dakota?

Union County contains 5 Census-designated places.