Hand County, South Dakota Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Hand County, South Dakota, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Hand County, South Dakota. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Hand County, South Dakota. The estimated population of Hand County, South Dakota is 3,061 people, with a median age of 46.7.

We can look at the total population in Hand County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
3,061
 -0.1% -7.33%
2020
3,064
 -5.9% -
2019
3,256
 -1.36% -
2018
3,301
 -0.06% -
2017
3,303
 - -

Population of Hand County, South Dakota by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
92.9%
97.9%
 -5.11%
Black/African American
0.2%
0%
 0.00%
Native
0%
0%
 0.00%
Hispanic
4.4%
0.7%
 +528.57%
Asian
0.3%
0.2%
 +50.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
0.6%
1.1%
 -45.45%
Other
1.5%
0%
 0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Hand County, South Dakota by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 46.7 -2.3% 46.7 +1.52% 46.5 -3.73%
2020 47.8 +0.84% 46 +1.1% 48.3 0%
2019 47.4 +0.21% 45.5 -1.73% 48.3 +1.26%
2018 47.3 -0.21% 46.3 -1.49% 47.7 -0.21%
2017 47.4 - 47 - 47.8 -

The median age of Hand County, South Dakota gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 232 -26.46% 215 -13.97% 176 185
10 to 19 154 +8.17% 176 +6.65% 162 184
20 to 29 196 -8.33% 144 +9.69% 177 157
30 to 39 156 +8.19% 190 -29.38% 163 138
40 to 49 169 -5.24% 126 +18.37% 159 142
50 to 59 251 -7.05% 246 -44.63% 231 146
60 to 69 240 -10.09% 192 +32.44% 216 262
70+ 275 +6.69% 341 -22.23% 292 271

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Hand County, South Dakota is $61,121.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Hand County.

  • Under 25
    $35,096.00
  • 25 to 44
    $78,036.00
  • 45 to 64
    $76,250.00
  • 65 and over
    $44,808.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Hand County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Hand County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Hand County, South Dakota is currently $77,364.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

6.04% of households in Hand County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Hand County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    20.69%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    23.27%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    14.14%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    14.29%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    18.26%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    3.31%
  • $200,000 or more
    6.04%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Hand County is $35,312.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Hand County by the total population of Hand County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Hand County, South Dakota, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Hand County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    6.08%
  • Bachelor's degree
    32.44%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    15.23%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    45.70%
  • Less than high school diploma
    0.55%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Hand County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Hand County over the age of 16 is 2,449.

Of those people, a total of 64.40% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Hand County is 64.10%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 95 32.60% 0.00%
20 to 24 years 198 78.30% 0.00%
25 to 29 years 136 97.80% 0.00%
30 to 34 years 182 65.40% 0.00%
35 to 44 years 288 89.20% 0.00%
45 to 54 years 321 94.40% 1.70%
55 to 59 years 188 83.50% 0.00%
60 to 64 years 267 84.60% 0.00%
65 to 74 years 401 36.90% 0.00%
75 years and over 373 12.90% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Hand County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 2,345 66.50% 0.30%
Black or African American 0 0.00% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1 0.00% 0.00%
Asian 9 100.00% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 77 0.00% 0.00%
Two or more races 17 52.90% 0.00%
Hispanic or Latino 72 18.10% 0.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 2,318 66.70% 0.30%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Hand County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Hand County is 1,570, with median earnings of $36,548.00.

Women in Hand County, South Dakota earning approximately 62.40% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 1,570 $36,548.00
Male 908 $48,784.00
Female 662 $30,455.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 380 $44,423.00
Business and Financial 78 $47,167.00
Computer and Mathematical 3 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 7 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 19 $76,339.00
Community and Social Service 55 $33,938.00
Legal 9 $74,063.00
Educational and Library 103 $25,694.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 0 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 84 $56,667.00
Healthcare Support 42 $22,143.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 15 $11,125.00
Law Enforcement 11 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 70 $13,182.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 49 $21,375.00
Personal Care and Service 41 $14,583.00
Sales 131 $33,750.00
Office and Administrative Support 133 $35,491.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 112 $48,750.00
Construction and Extraction 49 $37,292.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 61 $40,893.00
Production 31 $48,375.00
Transportation and Material Moving 63 $48,125.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 307 $48,625.00 73 $35,938.00
Business and Financial 26 $0.00 52 $45,833.00
Computer and Mathematical 3 $0.00 0 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 7 $0.00 0 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 17 $0.00 2 $0.00
Community and Social Service 23 $17,188.00 32 $34,500.00
Legal 3 $0.00 6 $0.00
Educational and Library 30 $26,944.00 73 $23,393.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 11 $250,001.00 73 $39,821.00
Healthcare Support 18 $31,071.00 24 $21,071.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 12 $0.00 3 $0.00
Law Enforcement 11 $0.00 0 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 15 $29,250.00 55 $7,386.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 22 $36,667.00 27 $20,375.00
Personal Care and Service 6 $0.00 35 $2,499.00
Sales 80 $69,167.00 51 $18,750.00
Office and Administrative Support 12 $56,667.00 121 $34,896.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 96 $60,000.00 16 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 49 $37,292.00 0 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 59 $41,250.00 2 $0.00
Production 19 $49,875.00 12 $0.00
Transportation and Material Moving 63 $48,125.00 0 $0.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 1,358 households in Hand County, with an average household size of 2.21 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 871 families in Hand County with an average family size of 2.83 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 788 16 67 487
Average Household Size 2.82 1.88 3.33 1.07
Total Families 788 16 67 0
Average Household Size 2.82 1.88 3.1 0

Poverty

Of the 871 families in Hand County, 6.70% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Hand County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 1,684 housing units in Hand County, South Dakota.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 1,358 80.64%
Vacant 326 19.36%

15.32% of the total 1,684 housing units in Hand County are rental units. This is approximately 258 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 962 are occupied by the owner - or 57.13% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Hand County is $499.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Hand County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    138
  • Less than $500
    130
  • $500 to $999
    96
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    32
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    0
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    0
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Hand County is $125,000.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Hand County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    223
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    178
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    117
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    160
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    103
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    155
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    22
  • $1,000,000 or more
    4

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Hand County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Hand County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    530
  • 1940 to 1949
    141
  • 1950 to 1959
    224
  • 1960 to 1969
    160
  • 1970 to 1979
    246
  • 1980 to 1989
    123
  • 1990 to 1999
    136
  • 2000 to 2009
    61
  • 2010 to 2013
    63
  • 2014 or later
    0

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Hand County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    65
  • 1 vehicle available
    375
  • 2 vehicles available
    448
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    470

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Hand County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Hand County that commute to work in a particular way.

14.4 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Hand County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    238
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    406
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    143
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    159
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    91
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    79
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    77
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    21
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    12
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    81
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    19
  • 90 or more minutes
    1

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Hand County, South Dakota in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Hand County, South Dakota

We have data for 37 places in Hand County, South Dakota. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.