Perkins County, South Dakota Income Statistics
Perkins 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
Perkins County Around averageWealthier than 72% of counties in South Dakota
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Perkins County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $67,665 | $75,087 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $53,016 | $53,860 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.1% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.7% | 10.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.4% | 8.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Perkins County is about 10% lower than in South Dakota. Income has been growing faster in Perkins County (5.1%/yr) than in South Dakota (4.6%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Perkins 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 Perkins County, South Dakota grew by 96.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $67,665 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Perkins County
| Metric | Perkins County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.501 | 0.504 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $70,423 | $62,990 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,552 | $50,603 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 29.6% | 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 Perkins County, it is 0.501, about the same as South Dakota's 0.504, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 42% more than women's income in Perkins County, South Dakota. Over a 35-year career, a 42% wage gap accumulates to roughly $730,485 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Perkins County, South Dakota has widened from about 10% to 30% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $17,816 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Perkins County widened by 19.7 points while South Dakota's narrowed by 4.5 points.
Employment
| Metric | Perkins County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% | 2.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 32.9% | 9.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 7 | 15 | 22 |
Approximately 77 people are unemployed in Perkins County, South Dakota.
The average commute time in Perkins County is 7 minutes, shorter than the 15 minutes in South Dakota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Perkins County, South Dakota has risen from 1.8% to 4.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 1.4% in 2020.
Perkins County, SD Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Perkins County, SD is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 3,001 residents against a local median of 2,377. The measure that sets Perkins County, SD apart most is unemployment: 4.8%, 66% above the local median of 2.9%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 5.1%/yr against a local median of 4.4%/yr, 16% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: income growth runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so Perkins County, SD is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 19.0% on unemployment, so Perkins County, SD sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Perkins County, SD has the 4th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perkins County, SD | 3,001 | $67,665 #3/6 | 5.1%/yr #2/6 | 4.8% #4/6 | 0.501 #4/6 |
| Adams County, ND | 2,145 | $63,424 | 2.6%/yr | 2.2% | 0.528 |
| Hettinger County, ND | 2,432 | $67,415 | 3.0%/yr | 5.4% | 0.500 |
| Meade County, SD | 30,546 | $74,726 | 4.4%/yr | 2.9% | 0.490 |
| Ziebach County, SD | 2,377 | $52,273 | 4.6%/yr | 20.0% | 0.635 |
| Harding County, SD | 1,148 | $80,729 | 5.8%/yr | 1.0% | 0.496 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Perkins 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 Perkins County, South Dakota.
How Rich Is Perkins County, South Dakota?
Perkins 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 $67,665, about 10% lower than the South Dakota average of $75,087.
How fast is household income rising in Perkins County, South Dakota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Perkins County, South Dakota rose 96%, from $34,462 to $67,665. Over the same years, income here outpaced South Dakota as a whole: +96% against +67%.
What was the median household income in Perkins County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Perkins County, South Dakota was $67,500, up 4% from $64,841 in 2022. The South Dakota median that year was $72,558.
What was the median household income in Perkins County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Perkins County, South Dakota was $62,358. By 2024 it had risen 9% to $67,665.
Is it hard to find a job in Perkins County, South Dakota?
Unemployment in Perkins County, South Dakota is 4.8%, well above the South Dakota rate of 2.9%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Perkins County, South Dakota?
The Gini coefficient in Perkins County is 0.501. 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 Perkins County, South Dakota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Perkins County, South Dakota has widened from about 10% to 30% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $17,816 since 2009.
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