1st Advantage MortgageCodington County households have a median income of $72,727 and median rent of $938 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Codington County
- How much Codington County households make
- Codington County housing compared with South Dakota
- Employment and commuting in Codington County
- Codington County next to its neighbors
- Codington County towns compared
- Budget math at the Codington County median
- Codington County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Codington County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in South Dakota
- A Codington County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Codington County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Codington County's population at 28,767; only 6 of South Dakota's 66 county-level areas are larger. It covers 688 square miles of land, or about 42 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Watertown is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 23,044 people (80% of the county total).
How much Codington County households make
The median household income in Codington County is $72,727; statewide it is $75,081, so Codington County runs 3% below South Dakota as a whole. Only 32 South Dakota counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Codington County | Difference from South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.1% | +0.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.0% | +2.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.2% | +0.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.8% | -3.4 pts |
Some 21% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 33% have six-figure incomes. 8.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.9%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.428 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $72,727 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Codington County housing compared with South Dakota
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $938 in Codington County versus $946 statewide. 36% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 18% spend half or more. With a median value of $237,700, a typical Codington County house costs 3.3 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 70% of homes. Median construction year: 1978.
| Housing | Codington County | South Dakota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $938/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $237,700 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.7% | 7.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 11% | n/a |
Employment and commuting in Codington County
The biggest employer of Codington County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by manufacturing (19%). Compared with South Dakota, the county leans toward manufacturing (19% against 10%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 1.9% in Codington County. About 84% drive to work alone and 5% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 5.3% of the total (5.2% statewide).
| Where residents work | Codington County | Difference from South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.4% | -3.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.5% | +8.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.7% | +3.2 pts |
| Construction | 8.1% | +0.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -1.6 pts |
| Other services | 5.9% | +1.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Codington County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Codington County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (20 to 44 miles). Hamlin County leads the group on income ($87,101), Day County trails ($66,033), and Codington County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Codington County | - | $72,727 | $938/mo | 70% |
| Hamlin County, SD | 20 mi | $87,101 | $800/mo | 82% |
| Grant County, SD | 25 mi | $75,028 | $763/mo | 76% |
| Clark County, SD | 27 mi | $70,726 | $782/mo | 78% |
| Deuel County, SD | 29 mi | $83,112 | $642/mo | 83% |
| Day County, SD | 33 mi | $66,033 | $660/mo | 75% |
| Kingsbury County, SD | 44 mi | $74,000 | $685/mo | 82% |
Codington County towns compared
7 Census places fall mainly inside Codington County; the 7 biggest are below. They account for 24,029 residents, leaving about 16% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Codington County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown | city | 23,044 | $69,600 | $942 | 4 mi |
| Florence | town | 317 | $75,909 | $817 | 9 mi |
| Henry | town | 237 | $27,158 | n/a | 14 mi |
| South Shore | town | 183 | $56,944 | $642 | 16 mi |
| Kranzburg | town | 175 | $74,375 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Wallace | town | 66 | $55,000 | $550 | 16 mi |
| Waverly | CDP | 7 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Budget math at the Codington County median
Codington County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $6,061 a month: gross income for a household at the Codington County median
- 15% goes to median rent ($938)
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,668 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Codington County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 21% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 6.3%, against 9.0% for South Dakota.
| Measure | Codington County | South Dakota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.4% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.1% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.3% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.3% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.8% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.9% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Codington County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 66.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 5.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.6% |
| 60+ min | 2.1% |
What the numbers mean for Codington County borrowers
What the Codington County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Checking a lender's license in South Dakota
The South Dakota Division of Banking is the place to verify any lender's South Dakota license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The South Dakota guide covers state rules in more detail.
A Codington County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Codington County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Codington County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in South Dakota.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
The South Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Codington County earn?
The median is $72,727; 33% earn $100,000 or more and 21% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Codington County?
$938 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Codington County?
By population: Watertown, Florence, Henry, South Shore, Kranzburg. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Does living in Codington County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Codington County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in Codington County check a lender's license?
With the South Dakota Division of Banking. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.