Aurora County, South Dakota Income Statistics
Aurora County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Aurora County Around averageWealthier than 92% of counties in South Dakota
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Aurora County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $71,438 | $75,087 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $51,091 | $53,860 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.0% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.8% | 10.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.0% | 8.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Aurora County is about 5% lower than in South Dakota. Income has been growing slower in Aurora County (4.0%/yr) than in South Dakota (4.6%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Aurora County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the South Dakota average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Aurora County, South Dakota grew by 67.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $71,438 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Aurora County
| Metric | Aurora County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.486 | 0.504 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,655 | $62,990 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $48,628 | $50,603 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 11.0% | 19.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Aurora County, it is 0.486, lower than South Dakota's 0.504, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 12% more than women's income in Aurora County, South Dakota. Over a 35-year career, a 12% wage gap accumulates to roughly $210,945 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Aurora County, South Dakota has narrowed from about 12% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,189 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Aurora County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.2% | 2.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 13.3% | 9.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 15 | 22 |
Approximately 17 people are unemployed in Aurora County, South Dakota.
The average commute time in Aurora County is 18 minutes, longer than the 15 minutes in South Dakota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Aurora County, South Dakota has fallen from 2.4% to 1.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 2.6% in 2013 and fell as low as 1.0% in 2020.
Aurora County, SD Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Aurora County, SD is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 2,642 residents against a local median of 5,283. Aurora County, SD's income growth, at 4.0%/yr, runs 21% below the 5.1%/yr typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 1.2% against a local median of 1.5%, 16% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: unemployment runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income growth runs behind it, so Aurora County, SD is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 2.9%/yr on income growth, so Aurora County, SD sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Aurora County, SD has the 5th highest income growth of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora County, SD | 2,642 | $71,438 #4/6 | 4.0%/yr #5/6 | 1.2% #3/6 | 0.486 #3/6 |
| Jerauld County, SD | 1,772 | $74,889 | 5.1%/yr | 1.7% | 0.460 |
| Douglas County, SD | 2,828 | $86,928 | 6.9%/yr | 1.0% | 0.487 |
| Davison County, SD | 19,952 | $65,072 | 4.0%/yr | 1.0% | 0.486 |
| Charles Mix County, SD | 9,281 | $65,346 | 5.4%/yr | 5.8% | 0.554 |
| Brule County, SD | 5,283 | $73,237 | 4.8%/yr | 1.5% | 0.528 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Aurora County, South Dakota has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than South Dakota, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Aurora County, South Dakota.
How Wealthy Is Aurora County, South Dakota?
Aurora County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $71,438, about 5% lower than the South Dakota average of $75,087.
How fast is household income rising in Aurora County, South Dakota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Aurora County, South Dakota rose 67%, from $42,714 to $71,438. Over the same years, income here kept pace with South Dakota as a whole: +67% against +67%.
What was the median household income in Aurora County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Aurora County, South Dakota was $74,148, up 3% from $72,205 in 2022. The South Dakota median that year was $72,558.
What was the median household income in Aurora County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Aurora County, South Dakota was $66,632. By 2024 it had risen 7% to $71,438.
Is unemployment high in Aurora County, South Dakota?
Unemployment in Aurora County, South Dakota is only 1.2%, well below the South Dakota rate of 2.9%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Aurora County, South Dakota?
The Gini coefficient in Aurora County is 0.486. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Aurora County, South Dakota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Aurora County, South Dakota has narrowed from about 12% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,189 since 2009.
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