Union County, South Dakota Income Statistics
Union 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
Union County Around averageAmong the top 3 wealthiest counties in South Dakota
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Union County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $89,958 | $75,087 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $65,126 | $53,860 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.3% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 16.4% | 10.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 13.1% | 8.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Union County is about 20% higher than in South Dakota. Income has been growing slower in Union County (4.3%/yr) than in South Dakota (4.6%/yr).
About 16% of adults in Union 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 Union County, South Dakota grew by 58.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $89,958 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Union County
| Metric | Union County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.497 | 0.504 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $73,836 | $62,990 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $59,943 | $50,603 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.8% | 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 Union County, it is 0.497, 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 23% more than women's income in Union County, South Dakota. Over a 35-year career, a 23% wage gap accumulates to roughly $486,255 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Union County, South Dakota has narrowed from about 27% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 35% in 2015, and was narrowest at 19% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,674 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Union County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.9% | 2.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.9% | 9.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 15 | 22 |
Approximately 273 people are unemployed in Union County, South Dakota.
The average commute time in Union County is 16 minutes, longer than the 15 minutes in South Dakota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Union County, South Dakota has fallen from 3.5% to 2.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 3.5% in 2023 and fell as low as 1.8% in 2018.
Union County, SD Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Union County, SD is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 17,081 residents against a local median of 21,354. Where Union County, SD breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 25% above the local median of 2.4% at 2.9%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $89,958 against a local median of $72,726, 24% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: median household income runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so Union County, SD is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 5.3% on unemployment, so Union County, SD sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Union 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County, SD | 17,081 | $89,958 #2/6 | 4.3%/yr #2/6 | 2.9% #4/6 | 0.497 #5/6 |
| Clay County, SD | 15,219 | $57,627 | 5.4%/yr | 6.9% | 0.582 |
| Dixon County, NE | 5,545 | $72,726 | 4.0%/yr | 2.4% | 0.480 |
| Dakota County, NE | 21,354 | $70,667 | 3.9%/yr | 4.8% | 0.491 |
| Lincoln County, SD | 70,639 | $98,826 | 3.0%/yr | 1.7% | 0.477 |
| Plymouth County, IA | 25,747 | $83,321 | 4.1%/yr | 2.2% | 0.476 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Union 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 Union County, South Dakota.
How Wealthy Is Union County, South Dakota?
Union 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 $89,958, about 20% higher than the South Dakota average of $75,087.
How has median household income changed in Union County, South Dakota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Union County, South Dakota rose 58%, from $56,821 to $89,958. Over the same years, income here lagged behind South Dakota as a whole: +58% against +67%.
What was the median household income in Union County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Union County, South Dakota was $85,859, up 4% from $82,647 in 2022. The South Dakota median that year was $72,558.
What was the median household income in Union County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Union County, South Dakota was $73,995. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $89,958.
Do many residents of Union County, South Dakota earn over $100,000?
Yes. 16% of adults in Union 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.
What is the Gini coefficient in Union County, South Dakota?
The Gini coefficient in Union County is 0.497. 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 Union County, South Dakota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Union County, South Dakota has narrowed from about 27% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 35% in 2015, and was narrowest at 19% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,674 since 2009.
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