Jackson County, South Dakota Income Statistics
Jackson 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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F
Jackson County Well below averageAmong the 5 least wealthy counties in South Dakota
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Jackson County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $35,400 | $75,087 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $40,577 | $53,860 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | -1.2% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.2% | 10.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 1.4% | 8.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Jackson County is about 53% lower than in South Dakota. Income has been growing slower in Jackson County (-1.2%/yr) than in South Dakota (4.6%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Jackson 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 Jackson County, South Dakota grew by 6.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $35,400 in 2024. That's an average of about 1.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Jackson County
| Metric | Jackson County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.684 | 0.504 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,422 | $62,990 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $36,499 | $50,603 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 32.9% | 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 Jackson County, it is 0.684, higher than South Dakota's 0.504, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 49% more than women's income in Jackson County, South Dakota. Over a 35-year career, a 49% wage gap accumulates to roughly $627,305 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jackson County, South Dakota has widened from about 18% to 33% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2023, and was narrowest at 6% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $11,873 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Jackson County widened by 14.8 points while South Dakota's narrowed by 4.5 points.
Employment
| Metric | Jackson County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2% | 2.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.9% | 9.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 7 | 15 | 22 |
Approximately 61 people are unemployed in Jackson County, South Dakota.
The average commute time in Jackson County is 7 minutes, shorter than the 15 minutes in South Dakota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Jackson County, South Dakota has fallen from 18.3% to 7.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 19.0% in 2013.
Jackson County, SD Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Jackson County, SD is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 2,802 residents against a local median of 1,943. The measure that sets Jackson County, SD apart most is income growth: -1.2%/yr, 117% below the local median of 6.6%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $35,400 against a local median of $55,416, 36% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: unemployment runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income growth runs behind it, so Jackson County, SD is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 4.9%/yr on income growth, so Jackson County, SD sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Jackson County, SD has the 6th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County, SD | 2,802 | $35,400 #6/6 | -1.2%/yr #6/6 | 7.2% #3/6 | 0.684 #5/6 |
| Bennett County, SD | 3,345 | $55,416 | 2.9%/yr | 10.0% | 0.649 |
| Haakon County, SD | 1,722 | $66,445 | 7.1%/yr | 1.0% | 0.499 |
| Mellette County, SD | 1,943 | $52,654 | 7.8%/yr | 12.5% | 0.618 |
| Jones County, SD | 1,004 | $64,091 | 6.6%/yr | 2.1% | 0.470 |
| Oglala Lakota County, SD | 13,491 | $40,506 | 5.5%/yr | 15.9% | 0.742 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Jackson County, South Dakota has an overall wealth index grade of F, making it worse than South Dakota, and worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Jackson County, South Dakota.
How Rich Is Jackson County, South Dakota?
Jackson County has a wealth index grade of F. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an F grade means residents are well below the U.S. average. The median household income is $35,400, about 53% lower than the South Dakota average of $75,087.
How fast is household income rising in Jackson County, South Dakota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Jackson County, South Dakota rose 7%, from $33,189 to $35,400. Over the same years, income here lagged behind South Dakota as a whole: +7% against +67%.
What was the median household income in Jackson County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Jackson County, South Dakota was $28,371, up 4% from $27,155 in 2022. The South Dakota median that year was $72,558.
What was the median household income in Jackson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Jackson County, South Dakota was $24,726. By 2024 it had risen 43% to $35,400.
Is it hard to find a job in Jackson County, South Dakota?
Unemployment in Jackson County, South Dakota is 7.2%, well above the South Dakota rate of 2.9%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Jackson County, South Dakota?
The Gini coefficient in Jackson County is 0.684. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Jackson County, South Dakota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jackson County, South Dakota has widened from about 18% to 33% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2023, and was narrowest at 6% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $11,873 since 2009.
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