Douglas County, South Dakota Income Statistics
Douglas 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.
-
B
Douglas County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Douglas County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $86,928 | $75,087 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,096 | $53,860 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.9% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.7% | 10.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.9% | 8.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Douglas County is about 16% higher than in South Dakota. Income has been growing faster in Douglas County (6.9%/yr) than in South Dakota (4.6%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Douglas County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the South Dakota average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Douglas County, South Dakota grew by 123.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $86,928 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Douglas County
| Metric | Douglas County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.487 | 0.504 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $65,344 | $62,990 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $46,333 | $50,603 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 29.1% | 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 Douglas County, it is 0.487, 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 41% more than women's income in Douglas County, South Dakota. Over a 35-year career, a 41% wage gap accumulates to roughly $665,385 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Douglas County, South Dakota has widened from about 25% to 29% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 49% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $9,377 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Douglas County widened by 3.6 points while South Dakota's narrowed by 4.5 points.
Employment
| Metric | Douglas County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.0% | 2.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.1% | 9.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 15 | 22 |
Approximately 7 people are unemployed in Douglas County, South Dakota.
The average commute time in Douglas County is 13 minutes, shorter than the 15 minutes in South Dakota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Douglas County, South Dakota has fallen from 2.5% to 1.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 1.0% in 2013.
Douglas County, SD Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Douglas County, SD is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 2,828 residents against a local median of 7,404. Where Douglas County, SD breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 71% above the local median of 4.0%/yr at 6.9%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 1.0% against a local median of 1.6%, 39% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Douglas County, SD is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 2.0%/yr on income growth, so Douglas County, SD sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Douglas County, SD has the 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas County, SD | 2,828 | $86,928 #1/6 | 6.9%/yr #1/6 | 1.0% #1/6 | 0.487 #3/6 |
| Charles Mix County, SD | 9,281 | $65,346 | 5.4%/yr | 5.8% | 0.554 |
| Davison County, SD | 19,952 | $65,072 | 4.0%/yr | 1.0% | 0.486 |
| Aurora County, SD | 2,642 | $71,438 | 4.0%/yr | 1.2% | 0.486 |
| Hutchinson County, SD | 7,404 | $74,552 | 5.9%/yr | 1.6% | 0.497 |
| Bon Homme County, SD | 7,043 | $64,720 | 3.9%/yr | 2.2% | 0.564 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Douglas County, South Dakota has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with South Dakota, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Douglas County, South Dakota.
How Rich Is Douglas County, South Dakota?
Douglas 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 $86,928, about 16% higher than the South Dakota average of $75,087.
Are incomes growing in Douglas County, South Dakota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Douglas County, South Dakota rose 124%, from $38,865 to $86,928. Over the same years, income here outpaced South Dakota as a whole: +124% against +67%.
What was the median household income in Douglas County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Douglas County, South Dakota was $78,620, up 5% from $75,069 in 2022. The South Dakota median that year was $72,558.
What was the median household income in Douglas County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Douglas County, South Dakota was $61,661. By 2024 it had risen 41% to $86,928.
Is unemployment high in Douglas County, South Dakota?
Unemployment in Douglas County, South Dakota is only 1.0%, 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 Douglas County, South Dakota?
The Gini coefficient in Douglas County is 0.487. 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 Douglas County, South Dakota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Douglas County, South Dakota has widened from about 25% to 29% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 49% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $9,377 since 2009.
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