1st Advantage MortgageFaulk County households have a median income of $57,750 and median rent of $771 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Faulk County at a glance
- Renting and owning in Faulk County
- How much Faulk County households make
- The Faulk County job picture
- The communities that make up Faulk County
- Faulk County and the counties next door
- Budget math at the Faulk County median
- Faulk County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Reading the Faulk County data as a borrower
- Lender oversight for Faulk County
- A Faulk County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Faulk County at a glance
Faulk County is home to about 2,126 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 57th most populous of 66 county-level areas in South Dakota. It covers 982 square miles of land, or about 2 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 11 places in the county (7 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is Faulkton, with about 670 residents, or 32% of the county. With so few households sampled, Faulk County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Renting and owning in Faulk County
A typical Faulk County rental runs $771 a month including utilities, which is 18% below South Dakota. 31% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. Home values center on $147,500, or 2.6 years of median income. The ownership rate is 80%. The median home was built in 1964, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Faulk County | South Dakota | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $771/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $147,500 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 31% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 21% | 11% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
How much Faulk County households make
Half of Faulk County households take in less than $57,750 a year and half take in more, 23% below the South Dakota median of $75,081.
| Income band | Share in Faulk County | Difference from South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.2% | +8.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.7% | -0.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.3% | -7.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.8% | -0.4 pts |
About 29% of households earn under $35,000, while 28% clear $100,000. Census counts 28.3% of Faulk County residents in poverty, against 11.9% across South Dakota. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Faulk County median.
The Faulk County job picture
Agriculture, forestry and mining employs 32% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 13%. Compared with South Dakota, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (32% against 6%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.3% in Faulk County. About 67% drive to work alone and 13% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Faulk County workers | vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 32.4% | +26.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 12.8% | -12.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.8% | -0.7 pts |
| Other services | 8.0% | +3.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.4% | -0.7 pts |
| Public administration | 5.8% | +0.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The communities that make up Faulk County
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 54% of Faulk County residents live in one of the 11. This guide covers each of the 11 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkton | city | 670 | $63,750 | $902 | 3 mi |
| Cresbard | town | 122 | $41,875 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Orient | town | 91 | $40,556 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Chelsea | town | 61 | n/a | n/a | 21 mi |
| Brentwood Colony | CDP | 57 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Evergreen Colony | CDP | 55 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Rockham | town | 37 | $137,083 | n/a | 20 mi |
| Onaka | town | 25 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
| Seneca | town | 22 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
| Blumengard Colony | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Thunderbird Colony | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Faulk County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 49 miles). All of the six report a higher median household income than Faulk County; Edmunds County is highest at $81,630 and Walworth County lowest at $65,026.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faulk County | - | $57,750 | $771/mo | 80% |
| Edmunds County, SD | 24 mi | $81,630 | $992/mo | 81% |
| Hand County, SD | 37 mi | $74,635 | $587/mo | 65% |
| Potter County, SD | 39 mi | $72,045 | $1,008/mo | 82% |
| Hyde County, SD | 40 mi | $73,472 | $836/mo | 83% |
| Spink County, SD | 41 mi | $70,139 | $734/mo | 73% |
| Walworth County, SD | 49 mi | $65,026 | $926/mo | 76% |
Budget math at the Faulk County median
Here is the Faulk County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $4,812 gross per month ($57,750 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $771 uses 16%
- $962: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- $1,298: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Faulk County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 23% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 6.3%, against 9.0% for South Dakota.
| Residents | Faulk County | South Dakota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.6% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.8% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.3% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.5% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 28.3% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Faulk County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 63.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 11.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.7% |
| 60+ min | 6.5% |
Reading the Faulk County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Faulk County borrowers.
- 28% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Faulk County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Lender oversight for Faulk County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Faulk County borrowers answers to the South Dakota Division of Banking. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on South Dakota: South Dakota personal loans.
A Faulk County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Faulk County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
The South Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Faulk County a high-income county?
Its $57,750 median ranks 56th of 66 South Dakota counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Faulk County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $771 a month; 31% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Faulk County?
By population: Faulkton, Cresbard, Orient, Chelsea, Brentwood Colony. The county has 11 Census places in all.
Does living in Faulk 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 Faulk County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in Faulk 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.