1st Advantage MortgageThe median Gregory County household earns $62,917, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's South Dakota license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Gregory County
- Income in Gregory County compared with South Dakota
- Renting and owning in Gregory County
- The Gregory County job picture
- The counties around Gregory County
- Gregory County towns compared
- Debt-to-income at Gregory County's medians
- Reading the Gregory County data as a borrower
- More Gregory County figures
- Steps before you apply in Gregory County
- Licensing and complaints for Gregory County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Gregory County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Gregory County's population at 4,016; only 39 of South Dakota's 66 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 1,015 square miles, that works out to roughly 4.0 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Gregory County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 7 Census places inside Gregory County, Gregory leads by population with about 1,379; 6 of the 7 are incorporated. With so few households sampled, Gregory County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Income in Gregory County compared with South Dakota
Gregory County households have a median income of $62,917 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 54th of 66 in South Dakota.
| Income band | Share in Gregory County | Difference from South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.9% | +4.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.7% | +3.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.5% | -6.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.0% | -1.2 pts |
About 26% of households earn under $35,000, while 27% clear $100,000. Census counts 9.5% of Gregory County residents in poverty, against 11.9% across South Dakota. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.432 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Gregory County median.
Renting and owning in Gregory County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $614 in Gregory County versus $946 statewide. 30% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 16% spend half or more. With a median value of $139,900, a typical Gregory County house costs 2.2 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 77%. Median construction year: 1963.
| Home costs | Gregory County | South Dakota | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $614/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $139,900 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 30% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.9% | 7.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 26% | 11% | n/a |
Because most Gregory County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
The Gregory County job picture
The biggest employer of Gregory County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (15%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 15% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 5% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Gregory County | Compared with South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.0% | +1.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 15.2% | +8.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.1% | +3.5 pts |
| Construction | 10.9% | +3.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.8% | +4.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.2% | -0.4 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 counties around Gregory County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Gregory County's, from 29 to 45 miles away. Income ranges from $58,987 in Tripp County to $86,442 in Douglas County; 5 of these neighbors top Gregory County's median. The list crosses into Nebraska, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gregory County | - | $62,917 | $614/mo | 77% |
| Boyd County, NE | 29 mi | $67,045 | $713/mo | 86% |
| Charles Mix County, SD | 31 mi | $64,038 | $704/mo | 72% |
| Keya Paha County, NE | 33 mi | $64,000 | $875/mo | 81% |
| Tripp County, SD | 36 mi | $58,987 | $820/mo | 68% |
| Brule County, SD | 39 mi | $73,720 | $835/mo | 76% |
| Douglas County, SD | 45 mi | $86,442 | $877/mo | 77% |
Gregory County towns compared
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Gregory County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 2,673 people, so roughly 33% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 7 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gregory | city | 1,379 | $51,450 | $633 | 11 mi |
| Burke | city | 708 | $52,500 | $525 | 4 mi |
| Bonesteel | city | 286 | $43,409 | $593 | 15 mi |
| Fairfax | town | 119 | $72,656 | n/a | 19 mi |
| Dallas | town | 102 | $63,333 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Herrick | town | 73 | $53,125 | n/a | 4 mi |
| St. Charles | CDP | 6 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Debt-to-income at Gregory County's medians
How much room does a median Gregory County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $5,243 a month: gross income for a household at the Gregory County median
- 12% goes to median rent ($614)
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,274 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,641 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Gregory County's.
Reading the Gregory County data as a borrower
Based on the Gregory County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Gregory County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Consolidating cards in Gregory County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
More Gregory County figures
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. 8.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Gregory County | All of South Dakota | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.2% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.5% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.3% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.5% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.3% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Gregory County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 57.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.8% |
| 60+ min | 3.6% |
Steps before you apply in Gregory County
Steps that save money for Gregory County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A South Dakota license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Licensing and complaints for Gregory County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Gregory County borrowers answers to the South Dakota Division of Banking. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The South Dakota guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
The South Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gregory County a high-income county?
Its $62,917 median ranks 54th of 66 South Dakota counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Gregory County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $614 against $946 statewide, and 30% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Gregory County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 77% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Gregory County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 7 Census places: Gregory, Burke, Bonesteel, Fairfax, Dallas.
Are Gregory County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.