Lincoln County, South Dakota Income Statistics
Lincoln 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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A
Lincoln County Above averageAmong the top 3 wealthiest counties in South Dakota
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Lincoln County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $98,826 | $75,087 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $61,460 | $53,860 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.0% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 16.0% | 10.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 13.3% | 8.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Lincoln County is about 32% higher than in South Dakota. Income has been growing slower in Lincoln County (3.0%/yr) than in South Dakota (4.6%/yr).
About 16% of adults in Lincoln 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 Lincoln County, South Dakota grew by 49.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $98,826 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Lincoln County
| Metric | Lincoln County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.477 | 0.504 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $72,755 | $62,990 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $55,628 | $50,603 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 23.5% | 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 Lincoln County, it is 0.477, 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 31% more than women's income in Lincoln County, South Dakota. Over a 35-year career, a 31% wage gap accumulates to roughly $599,445 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
The income gap between men and women in Lincoln County, South Dakota has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 24%. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2021, and was narrowest at 19% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $7,027 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Lincoln County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.7% | 2.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 12.3% | 9.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 15 | 22 |
Approximately 685 people are unemployed in Lincoln County, South Dakota.
The average commute time in Lincoln County is 18 minutes, longer than the 15 minutes in South Dakota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Lincoln County, South Dakota has fallen from 2.2% to 1.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 2.7% in 2020 and fell as low as 1.4% in 2022.
Lincoln County, SD Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Lincoln County, SD is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 70,639 residents against a local median of 15,219. The measure that sets Lincoln County, SD apart most is unemployment: 1.7%, 32% below the local median of 2.5%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 3.0%/yr against a local median of 4.3%/yr, 31% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: unemployment runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income growth runs behind it, so Lincoln County, SD is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 4.8% on unemployment, so Lincoln County, SD sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Lincoln 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County, SD | 70,639 | $98,826 #1/6 | 3.0%/yr #6/6 | 1.7% #1/6 | 0.477 #3/6 |
| Minnehaha County, SD | 203,266 | $77,010 | 4.2%/yr | 2.5% | 0.473 |
| Turner County, SD | 8,882 | $76,210 | 4.6%/yr | 2.1% | 0.474 |
| Clay County, SD | 15,219 | $57,627 | 5.4%/yr | 6.9% | 0.582 |
| Union County, SD | 17,081 | $89,958 | 4.3%/yr | 2.9% | 0.497 |
| Lyon County, IA | 12,162 | $76,339 | 3.1%/yr | 2.3% | 0.507 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Lincoln County, South Dakota has an overall wealth index grade of A, making it somewhat better than South Dakota, and notably better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Lincoln County, South Dakota.
How Rich Is Lincoln County, South Dakota?
Lincoln County has a wealth index grade of A. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an A grade means residents are much better off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $98,826, about 32% higher than the South Dakota average of $75,087.
How fast is household income rising in Lincoln County, South Dakota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Lincoln County, South Dakota rose 49%, from $66,138 to $98,826. Over the same years, income here lagged behind South Dakota as a whole: +49% against +67%.
What was the median household income in Lincoln County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Lincoln County, South Dakota was $95,585, up 3% from $92,617 in 2022. The South Dakota median that year was $72,558.
What was the median household income in Lincoln County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Lincoln County, South Dakota was $85,176. By 2024 it had risen 16% to $98,826.
Is Lincoln County, South Dakota a high-income area?
Yes. 16% of adults in Lincoln County, South Dakota earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 6), against 10% (about 1 in 10) in South Dakota. 13% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 8% in South Dakota.
Is unemployment high in Lincoln County, South Dakota?
Unemployment in Lincoln County, South Dakota is only 1.7%, 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 Lincoln County, South Dakota?
The Gini coefficient in Lincoln County is 0.477. 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 Lincoln County, South Dakota?
The income gap between men and women in Lincoln County, South Dakota has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 24%. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2021, and was narrowest at 19% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $7,027 since 2009.
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