Union County, South Dakota Demographics 2026
Union County, South Dakota has a population of 17,081, the 13th most populous county in South Dakota. The median household income is $89,636 and the median home value is $301,100. The poverty rate is 6.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Union County Quick Facts
How Union 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 | 16,916 | 17,081 | +1.0% |
| Median household income | $84,137 | $89,636 | +6.5% |
| Median home value | $269,500 | $301,100 | +11.7% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
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 Union County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota Dunes | 3,936 | $136,125 | 2.4% | $565,600 |
| North Sioux City | 3,045 | $71,908 | 11.0% | $269,800 |
| Elk Point | 2,537 | $90,473 | 8.5% | $248,500 |
| Alcester | 989 | $57,000 | 12.4% | $125,800 |
| Jefferson | 554 | $82,888 | 4.9% | $179,400 |
| Richland | 107 | $130,417 | 0.0% | $208,300 |
Explore South Dakota Rankings
Population Overview
Union County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 17,081. It is the 13th most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Union County is 41.5 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 38.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Union County is $89,636. This is 19% higher than the state median of $75,081. It is also 11% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 6.2%. This is 48% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 3.0%. This is 1% higher than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $301,100. Housing costs are 17% higher than the state median of $257,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 73.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 68.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Union County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.8%. The Black or African American population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.
Education
37.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Union County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 16% 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 95.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Union 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 Union County, South Dakota?
Union County has a population of 17,081, 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 $89,636 with a poverty rate of 6.2%.
How many cities are in Union County, South Dakota?
Union County contains 6 Census-designated places.