Potter County, South Dakota Income Statistics
Potter 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
Potter County Around averageWealthier than 78% of counties in South Dakota
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Potter County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $73,124 | $75,087 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,592 | $53,860 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.6% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.1% | 10.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.1% | 8.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Potter County is about 3% lower than in South Dakota. Income has been growing faster in Potter County (5.6%/yr) than in South Dakota (4.6%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Potter 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 Potter County, South Dakota grew by 92.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $73,124 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Potter County
| Metric | Potter County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.511 | 0.504 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $64,043 | $62,990 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $50,555 | $50,603 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.1% | 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 Potter County, it is 0.511, 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 27% more than women's income in Potter County, South Dakota. Over a 35-year career, a 27% wage gap accumulates to roughly $472,080 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Potter County, South Dakota has narrowed from about 30% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 15% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,471 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Potter County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% | 2.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.0% | 9.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 10 | 15 | 22 |
Approximately 31 people are unemployed in Potter County, South Dakota.
The average commute time in Potter County is 10 minutes, shorter than the 15 minutes in South Dakota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Potter County, South Dakota has risen from 1.0% to 2.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 2.9% in 2023.
Potter County, SD Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Potter County, SD is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 2,388 residents against a local median of 1,593. Where Potter County, SD breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 40% above the local median of 4.0%/yr at 5.6%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 2.6% against a local median of 3.1%, 17% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Potter County, SD is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 3.1%/yr on income growth, so Potter County, SD sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Potter County, SD has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potter County, SD | 2,388 | $73,124 #2/6 | 5.6%/yr #2/6 | 2.6% #3/6 | 0.511 #6/6 |
| Walworth County, SD | 5,271 | $63,610 | 4.0%/yr | 3.5% | 0.489 |
| Sully County, SD | 1,526 | $72,742 | 2.6%/yr | 1.0% | 0.442 |
| Hughes County, SD | 17,664 | $82,070 | 4.3%/yr | 1.0% | 0.481 |
| Hyde County, SD | 1,191 | $72,154 | 3.3%/yr | 3.7% | 0.485 |
| Campbell County, SD | 1,593 | $70,813 | 5.7%/yr | 3.1% | 0.498 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Potter 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 Potter County, South Dakota.
How Rich Is Potter County, South Dakota?
Potter 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 $73,124, about 3% lower than the South Dakota average of $75,087.
How has median household income changed in Potter County, South Dakota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Potter County, South Dakota rose 92%, from $38,024 to $73,124. Over the same years, income here outpaced South Dakota as a whole: +92% against +67%.
What was the median household income in Potter County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Potter County, South Dakota was $71,801, down 2% from $73,153 in 2022. The South Dakota median that year was $72,558.
What was the median household income in Potter County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Potter County, South Dakota was $54,726. By 2024 it had risen 34% to $73,124.
What is the Gini coefficient in Potter County, South Dakota?
The Gini coefficient in Potter County is 0.511. 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 Potter County, South Dakota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Potter County, South Dakota has narrowed from about 30% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 15% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,471 since 2009.
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