Mellette County, South Dakota Income Statistics
Mellette 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.
-
F
Mellette County Well below averageAmong the 5 least wealthy counties in South Dakota
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Mellette County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $52,654 | $75,087 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $42,266 | $53,860 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 7.8% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.9% | 10.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.2% | 8.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Mellette County is about 30% lower than in South Dakota. Income has been growing faster in Mellette County (7.8%/yr) than in South Dakota (4.6%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Mellette 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 Mellette County, South Dakota grew by 52.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $52,654 in 2024. That's an average of about 7.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Mellette County
| Metric | Mellette County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.618 | 0.504 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $40,576 | $62,990 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $42,161 | $50,603 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | -3.9% | 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 Mellette County, it is 0.618, 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.
Women's income is about 4% more than men's income in Mellette County, South Dakota. Over a 35-year career, a 4% wage gap accumulates to roughly $55,475 in unearned income for male workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Mellette County, South Dakota has narrowed from about 14% to -4% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 18% in 2011, and in 2013 women out-earned men by 19%. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $6,624 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Mellette County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 12.5% | 2.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 13.9% | 9.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 15 | 22 |
Approximately 108 people are unemployed in Mellette County, South Dakota.
The average commute time in Mellette County is 15 minutes, about the same as in South Dakota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Mellette County, South Dakota has fallen from 16.1% to 12.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 16.9% in 2012 and fell as low as 6.6% in 2017.
Mellette County, SD Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Mellette County, SD is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 1,943 residents against a local median of 3,015. Where Mellette County, SD breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting more than 5 times the local median of 2.1% at 12.5%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 7.8%/yr against a local median of 4.5%/yr, 74% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: income growth runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so Mellette County, SD is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 17.6% on unemployment, so Mellette County, SD sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Mellette County, SD has the 5th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mellette County, SD | 1,943 | $52,654 #4/6 | 7.8%/yr #1/6 | 12.5% #5/6 | 0.618 #4/6 |
| Jones County, SD | 1,004 | $64,091 | 6.6%/yr | 2.1% | 0.470 |
| Todd County, SD | 9,243 | $41,983 | 4.6%/yr | 18.6% | 0.682 |
| Stanley County, SD | 3,015 | $80,929 | 4.0%/yr | 1.0% | 0.444 |
| Jackson County, SD | 2,802 | $35,400 | -1.2%/yr | 7.2% | 0.684 |
| Tripp County, SD | 5,611 | $58,278 | 4.5%/yr | 1.8% | 0.544 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Mellette 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 Mellette County, South Dakota.
How Rich Is Mellette County, South Dakota?
Mellette 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 $52,654, about 30% lower than the South Dakota average of $75,087.
How fast is household income rising in Mellette County, South Dakota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Mellette County, South Dakota rose 53%, from $34,479 to $52,654. Over the same years, income here lagged behind South Dakota as a whole: +53% against +67%.
What was the median household income in Mellette County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Mellette County, South Dakota was $51,263, up 22% from $42,159 in 2022. The South Dakota median that year was $72,558.
What was the median household income in Mellette County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Mellette County, South Dakota was $33,909. By 2024 it had risen 55% to $52,654.
Is unemployment high in Mellette County, South Dakota?
Unemployment in Mellette County, South Dakota is 12.5%, well above the South Dakota rate of 2.9%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Mellette County, South Dakota?
The Gini coefficient in Mellette County is 0.618. 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 Mellette County, South Dakota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Mellette County, South Dakota has narrowed from about 14% to -4% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 18% in 2011, and in 2013 women out-earned men by 19%. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $6,624 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 →