McPherson County, South Dakota Income Statistics
McPherson 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.
-
C
McPherson County Below averageLess wealthy than 72% of counties in South Dakota
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | McPherson County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $68,353 | $75,087 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $50,391 | $53,860 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.3% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.6% | 10.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.0% | 8.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in McPherson County is about 9% lower than in South Dakota. Income has been growing faster in McPherson County (6.3%/yr) than in South Dakota (4.6%/yr).
About 11% of adults in McPherson 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 McPherson County, South Dakota grew by 123.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $68,353 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in McPherson County
| Metric | McPherson County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.522 | 0.504 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $56,612 | $62,990 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $44,892 | $50,603 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 20.7% | 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 McPherson County, it is 0.522, higher than South Dakota's 0.504, so income is less 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 26% more than women's income in McPherson County, South Dakota. Over a 35-year career, a 26% wage gap accumulates to roughly $410,200 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in McPherson County, South Dakota has narrowed from about 24% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 41% in 2018, and was narrowest at 0% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,017 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | McPherson County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.1% | 2.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.6% | 9.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 10 | 15 | 22 |
Approximately 11 people are unemployed in McPherson County, South Dakota.
The average commute time in McPherson County is 10 minutes, shorter than the 15 minutes in South Dakota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in McPherson County, South Dakota has fallen from 2.0% to 1.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.1% in 2018 and fell as low as 1.0% in 2013.
McPherson County, SD Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
McPherson County, SD is typical in size for this group, 2,145 residents against a local median of 2,496, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. McPherson County, SD's income growth, at 6.3%/yr, runs 107% above the 3.1%/yr typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 1.1% against a local median of 3.1%, 65% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so McPherson County, SD is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 2.9%/yr on income growth, so McPherson County, SD sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. McPherson 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McPherson County, SD | 2,145 | $68,353 #3/6 | 6.3%/yr #1/6 | 1.1% #1/6 | 0.522 #4/6 |
| Edmunds County, SD | 4,048 | $79,199 | 3.1%/yr | 1.1% | 0.510 |
| McIntosh County, ND | 2,496 | $64,966 | 5.2%/yr | 3.1% | 0.503 |
| Faulk County, SD | 2,126 | $58,499 | 3.9%/yr | 5.3% | 0.540 |
| Logan County, ND | 1,819 | $64,896 | 2.2%/yr | 1.7% | 0.532 |
| Dickey County, ND | 4,935 | $70,209 | 3.0%/yr | 4.1% | 0.517 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, McPherson County, South Dakota has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with South Dakota, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in McPherson County, South Dakota.
How Rich Is McPherson County, South Dakota?
McPherson County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $68,353, about 9% lower than the South Dakota average of $75,087.
How has median household income changed in McPherson County, South Dakota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in McPherson County, South Dakota rose 123%, from $30,588 to $68,353. Over the same years, income here outpaced South Dakota as a whole: +123% against +67%.
What was the median household income in McPherson County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in McPherson County, South Dakota was $62,297, up 7% from $58,437 in 2022. The South Dakota median that year was $72,558.
What was the median household income in McPherson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in McPherson County, South Dakota was $52,192. By 2024 it had risen 31% to $68,353.
Is unemployment high in McPherson County, South Dakota?
Unemployment in McPherson County, South Dakota is only 1.1%, 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 McPherson County, South Dakota?
The Gini coefficient in McPherson County is 0.522. 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 McPherson County, South Dakota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in McPherson County, South Dakota has narrowed from about 24% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 41% in 2018, and was narrowest at 0% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,017 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 →