1st Advantage MortgageAbout 76% of Grant County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $75,028. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in South Dakota before sharing details.
On this page
- Grant County by the numbers
- Income in Grant County compared with South Dakota
- Work, industries and travel time in Grant County
- Renting and owning in Grant County
- Grant County next to its neighbors
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Grant County
- A Grant County household budget, worked through
- Grant County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Grant County
- Checking a lender's license in South Dakota
- Four steps for Grant County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Grant County by the numbers
Roughly 7,563 residents live in Grant County, South Dakota, 23rd by population among the state's 66 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 681 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 11 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Grant County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Milbank is the biggest of its 9 Census places, at roughly 3,525 people (47% of the county total). With so few households sampled, Grant County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Income in Grant County compared with South Dakota
At $75,028, the typical Grant County household income is 14% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 21st among South Dakota's 66 county-level areas.
| Household income | Grant County | vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.2% | +4.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.9% | -3.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.7% | +1.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.3% | -1.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 35% of Grant County households make $100,000 or more, and 25% make less than $35,000. 11.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.9%). For a borrower in Grant County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Work, industries and travel time in Grant County
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 12%. Compared with South Dakota, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (10% against 6%). Averaged over the five survey years, 2.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 4% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Grant County share | +/- vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.1% | -3.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.2% | +2.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | -0.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.7% | +3.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.2% | +1.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | -0.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Renting and owning in Grant County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $763 in Grant County versus $946 statewide. By the Census definition, 29% of Grant County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $171,000, a typical Grant County house costs 2.3 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 76% of homes. The median home was built in 1972, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Grant County | South Dakota | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $763/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $171,000 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 29% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 11% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Grant County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Grant County next to its neighbors
Big Stone County is closest, 25 miles from center to center; the sixth, Hamlin County, is 39 miles off. Hamlin County leads the group on income ($87,101), Roberts County trails ($65,130), and Grant County out-earns 4 of the six. The list crosses into Minnesota, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grant County | - | $75,028 | $763/mo | 76% |
| Big Stone County, MN | 25 mi | $70,400 | $745/mo | 80% |
| Codington County, SD | 25 mi | $72,727 | $938/mo | 70% |
| Deuel County, SD | 29 mi | $83,112 | $642/mo | 83% |
| Lac qui Parle County, MN | 31 mi | $74,432 | $728/mo | 83% |
| Roberts County, SD | 32 mi | $65,130 | $658/mo | 71% |
| Hamlin County, SD | 39 mi | $87,101 | $800/mo | 82% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Grant County
Here are the 9 most populous of the county's 9 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 61% of Grant County residents live in one of the 9. No Grant County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 9.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milbank | city | 3,525 | $56,011 | $548 | 7 mi |
| Big Stone City | city | 706 | $63,333 | $776 | 17 mi |
| Revillo | town | 88 | $56,300 | n/a | 15 mi |
| La Bolt | town | 80 | $71,667 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Stockholm | town | 74 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
| Strandburg | town | 58 | $68,125 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Twin Brooks | town | 29 | n/a | n/a | 3 mi |
| Marvin | town | 19 | $43,125 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Albee | town | 4 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
A Grant County household budget, worked through
Here is the Grant County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,252 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $763 uses 12%
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,425 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $2,051 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Grant County's.
Grant County residents: age, schooling, coverage
25% of Grant County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 7.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Grant County | South Dakota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.3% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.4% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.8% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.6% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.7% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 60.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.6% |
| 60+ min | 2.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Grant County
A few patterns in the Grant County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Consolidating cards in Grant County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Grant County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- 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. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The South Dakota guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Grant County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for South Dakota borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
The South Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Grant County earn?
The median is $75,028; 35% earn $100,000 or more and 25% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Grant County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $763 against $946 statewide, and 29% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Grant County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 76% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Grant County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 9 Census places: Milbank, Big Stone City, Revillo, La Bolt, Stockholm.
Does living in Grant 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 Grant County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.