Hughes County, South Dakota Income Statistics
Hughes 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
Hughes County Around averageWealthier than 88% of counties in South Dakota
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Hughes County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $82,070 | $75,087 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $55,871 | $53,860 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.3% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.9% | 10.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.8% | 8.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Hughes County is about 9% higher than in South Dakota. Income has been growing slower in Hughes County (4.3%/yr) than in South Dakota (4.6%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Hughes 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 Hughes County, South Dakota grew by 59.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $82,070 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Hughes County
| Metric | Hughes County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.481 | 0.504 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $62,631 | $62,990 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $54,347 | $50,603 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 13.2% | 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 Hughes County, it is 0.481, 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 15% more than women's income in Hughes County, South Dakota. Over a 35-year career, a 15% wage gap accumulates to roughly $289,940 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Hughes County, South Dakota has narrowed from about 23% to 13% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2011, and was narrowest at 11% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,440 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Hughes County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.0% | 2.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.7% | 9.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 10 | 15 | 22 |
Approximately 86 people are unemployed in Hughes County, South Dakota.
The average commute time in Hughes County is 10 minutes, shorter than the 15 minutes in South Dakota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Hughes County, South Dakota has fallen from 2.0% to 1.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 3.2% in 2013 and fell as low as 1.0% in 2021.
Hughes County, SD Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Hughes County, SD is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 17,664 residents against a local median of 2,388. Hughes County, SD's unemployment, at 1.0%, runs 62% below the 2.6% typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.0% on unemployment, so Hughes County, SD sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Hughes County, SD has the lowest unemployment 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hughes County, SD | 17,664 | $82,070 #1/6 | 4.3%/yr #3/6 | 1.0% #1/6 | 0.481 #3/6 |
| Sully County, SD | 1,526 | $72,742 | 2.6%/yr | 1.0% | 0.442 |
| Lyman County, SD | 3,724 | $68,584 | 5.2%/yr | 4.0% | 0.563 |
| Hyde County, SD | 1,191 | $72,154 | 3.3%/yr | 3.7% | 0.485 |
| Potter County, SD | 2,388 | $73,124 | 5.6%/yr | 2.6% | 0.511 |
| Stanley County, SD | 3,015 | $80,929 | 4.0%/yr | 1.0% | 0.444 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Hughes 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 Hughes County, South Dakota.
How Rich Is Hughes County, South Dakota?
Hughes 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 $82,070, about 9% higher than the South Dakota average of $75,087.
How has median household income changed in Hughes County, South Dakota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Hughes County, South Dakota rose 60%, from $51,436 to $82,070. Over the same years, income here lagged behind South Dakota as a whole: +60% against +67%.
What was the median household income in Hughes County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Hughes County, South Dakota was $78,901, down 2% from $80,895 in 2022. The South Dakota median that year was $72,558.
What was the median household income in Hughes County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Hughes County, South Dakota was $69,495. By 2024 it had risen 18% to $82,070.
Is it hard to find a job in Hughes County, South Dakota?
Unemployment in Hughes 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 Hughes County, South Dakota?
The Gini coefficient in Hughes County is 0.481. 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 Hughes County, South Dakota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Hughes County, South Dakota has narrowed from about 23% to 13% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2011, and was narrowest at 11% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,440 since 2009.
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