Harding County, South Dakota Income Statistics
Harding 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
Harding County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Harding County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $80,729 | $75,087 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $53,151 | $53,860 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.8% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 14.1% | 10.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.8% | 8.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Harding County is about 8% higher than in South Dakota. Income has been growing faster in Harding County (5.8%/yr) than in South Dakota (4.6%/yr).
About 14% of adults in Harding 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 Harding County, South Dakota grew by 107.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $80,729 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Harding County
| Metric | Harding County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.496 | 0.504 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $63,076 | $62,990 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $38,124 | $50,603 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 39.6% | 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 Harding County, it is 0.496, 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 65% more than women's income in Harding County, South Dakota. Over a 35-year career, a 65% wage gap accumulates to roughly $873,320 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Harding County, South Dakota has narrowed from about 59% to 40% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 22% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $7,220 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Harding County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.0% | 2.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 16.4% | 9.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 11 | 15 | 22 |
Approximately 6 people are unemployed in Harding County, South Dakota.
The average commute time in Harding County is 11 minutes, shorter than the 15 minutes in South Dakota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Harding County, South Dakota has fallen from 2.0% to 1.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 2.8% in 2021 and fell as low as 1.0% in 2014.
Harding County, SD Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Harding County, SD is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 1,148 residents against a local median of 2,906. The measure that sets Harding County, SD apart most is income growth: 5.8%/yr, 111% above the local median of 2.7%/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 2.8%, 65% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Harding County, SD is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 5.2%/yr on income growth, so Harding County, SD sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Harding County, SD has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harding County, SD | 1,148 | $80,729 #1/6 | 5.8%/yr #2/6 | 1.0% #1/6 | 0.496 #1/6 |
| Bowman County, ND | 2,906 | $73,774 | 2.0%/yr | 3.1% | 0.500 |
| Butte County, SD | 10,676 | $75,510 | 7.2%/yr | 1.8% | 0.508 |
| Slope County, ND | 766 | $72,272 | 2.6%/yr | 2.7% | 0.534 |
| Perkins County, SD | 3,001 | $67,665 | 5.1%/yr | 4.8% | 0.501 |
| Carter County, MT | 1,308 | $57,567 | 2.7%/yr | 2.8% | 0.542 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Harding 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 Harding County, South Dakota.
How Rich Is Harding County, South Dakota?
Harding 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 $80,729, about 8% higher than the South Dakota average of $75,087.
How has median household income changed in Harding County, South Dakota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Harding County, South Dakota rose 108%, from $38,823 to $80,729. Over the same years, income here outpaced South Dakota as a whole: +108% against +67%.
What was the median household income in Harding County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Harding County, South Dakota was $74,673, up 4% from $71,562 in 2022. The South Dakota median that year was $72,558.
What was the median household income in Harding County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Harding County, South Dakota was $61,875. By 2024 it had risen 30% to $80,729.
Is Harding County, South Dakota a high-income area?
Yes. 14% of adults in Harding County, South Dakota earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 7), against 10% (about 1 in 10) in South Dakota. 10% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 8% in South Dakota.
Is unemployment high in Harding County, South Dakota?
Unemployment in Harding 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 Harding County, South Dakota?
The Gini coefficient in Harding County is 0.496. 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 Harding County, South Dakota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Harding County, South Dakota has narrowed from about 59% to 40% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 22% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $7,220 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →