Yankton County, South Dakota Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Yankton County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 23,379. It is the 9th most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Yankton County is 42.2 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 37.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Yankton County is $73,855. This is 2% higher than the state median of $72,421. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 6% lower. The poverty rate stands at 9.4%. This is 22% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 1.6%. This is 46% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $208,200. Housing costs are 12% lower than the state median of $236,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Yankton County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 72.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Yankton County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.6%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.

Education

27.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 11% lower 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 92.7%.