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Yankton County, South Dakota Demographics 2026

Yankton County, South Dakota has a population of 23,414, the 9th most populous county in South Dakota. The median household income is $72,821 and the median home value is $225,900. The poverty rate is 11.9%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Yankton County Quick Facts

Population 23,414
Median Household Income $72,821
Median Home Value $225,900
Poverty Rate 11.9%
Unemployment Rate 1.4%
Median Age 42.5 years
Homeownership Rate 72.7%
Affordability Ratio 3.1x
Bachelor's Degree+ 31.4%
High School Graduation 93.7%
Cities/Places 8
Population 23,414 9th of 66
Median Income $72,821 3% lower than state
Poverty Rate 11.9%
Unemployment 1.4%

How Yankton County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population23,37923,414+0.1%
Median household income$73,855$72,821-1.4%
Median home value$208,200$225,900+8.5%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 13.1%
$25K-$50K 18.7%
$50K-$100K 34.0%
$100K+ 34.2%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
4.2%
$10K-$15K
3.3%
$15K-$20K
2.4%
$20K-$25K
3.2%
$25K-$30K
3.2%
$30K-$35K
4.3%
$35K-$40K
3.2%
$40K-$45K
4.3%
$45K-$50K
3.7%
$50K-$60K
8.2%
$60K-$75K
11.4%
$75K-$100K
14.5%
$100K-$125K
11.8%
$125K-$150K
9.6%
$150K-$200K
6.6%
$200K+
6.2%

Employment

1.4% Unemployment Rate State: 2.9%|National: 5.2%
61.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 72.7%
Renter 27.3%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.1x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $781/mo 12.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

24out of 100
Very Low Diversity

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

State average: 35 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Yankton County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Yankton15,540$67,80414.1%$222,700
Gayville519$79,3754.0%$99,300
Irene456$66,5633.7%$87,300
Mission Hill200$71,2505.5%$104,200
Volin139$112,5572.9%$115,600
Jamesville Colony101N/A37.1%N/A
Lesterville91$56,2507.7%$70,800
Utica68$51,0004.4%$52,500

Population Overview

Yankton County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 23,414. It is the 9th most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Yankton County is 42.5 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 38.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Yankton County is $72,821. This is 3% lower than the state median of $75,081. It is also 10% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.9%. This is about the same as the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 1.4%. This is 53% lower than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $225,900. Housing costs are 12% lower than the state median of $257,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 72.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% higher than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Yankton County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.9%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.

Education

31.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 1% 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 93.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Yankton 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 Yankton County, South Dakota?

Yankton County has a population of 23,414, making it the 9th most populous county in South Dakota.

What is the median income in Yankton County?

The median household income in Yankton County is $72,821 with a poverty rate of 11.9%.

How many cities are in Yankton County, South Dakota?

Yankton County contains 8 Census-designated places.