1st Advantage MortgageHamlin County households have a median income of $87,101 and median rent of $800 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Who lives in Hamlin County
- The Hamlin County job picture
- Paychecks and income spread in Hamlin County
- Housing costs in Hamlin County
- Places inside Hamlin County
- Hamlin County and the counties next door
- A Hamlin County household budget, worked through
- Before borrowing in Hamlin County
- Who lives in Hamlin County, in numbers
- Licensing and complaints for Hamlin County
- Checklist for Hamlin County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Hamlin County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Hamlin County's population at 6,373; only 27 of South Dakota's 66 county-level areas are larger. It covers 507 square miles of land, or about 13 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Lake Norden is the biggest of its 9 Census places, at roughly 889 people (14% of the county total). With so few households sampled, Hamlin County estimates can move a lot between releases.
The Hamlin County job picture
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 16%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 13% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Hamlin County averages 0.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 2.9%). 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. Only 1.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Hamlin County | Difference from South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.7% | -4.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.5% | +6.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 13.4% | +7.1 pts |
| Construction | 11.7% | +4.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -1.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.3% | +2.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Paychecks and income spread in Hamlin County
Hamlin County households have a median income of $87,101 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 4th of 66 in South Dakota.
| Household income | Hamlin County | vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.6% | -6.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.2% | +2.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.4% | +4.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.9% | -0.2 pts |
Some 15% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 39% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 6.9%, 5 points lower than the state's 11.9%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.418 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 Hamlin County median.
Housing costs in Hamlin County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $800 in Hamlin County versus $946 statewide. 21% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 6% spend half or more. Home values center on $208,600, or 2.4 years of median income. 82% of Hamlin County households own their home and 18% rent.
| Measure | Hamlin County | South Dakota | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $800/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $208,600 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 21% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.9% | 7.2% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Hamlin 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.
Places inside Hamlin County
The table lists the 9 largest of 9 Census places in Hamlin County, by population. Together all 9 hold about 4,242 people, so roughly 33% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $87,045 at the median in Castlewood, $62,000 in Bryant. Rent is cheapest in Estelline ($753) and steepest in Castlewood ($1,139). This guide covers each of the 9 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Norden | city | 889 | $75,688 | $1,089 | 7 mi |
| Estelline | city | 831 | $78,438 | $753 | 15 mi |
| Castlewood | city | 804 | $87,045 | $1,139 | 8 mi |
| Bryant | city | 727 | $62,000 | $864 | 16 mi |
| Hayti | town | 444 | $83,750 | $778 | 2 mi |
| Lake Poinsett | CDP | 348 | $96,875 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Hazel | town | 199 | $117,250 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Claremont Colony | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Poinsett Colony | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
Hamlin County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 20 to 39 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Deuel County leads the group on income ($83,112), Brookings County trails ($70,064), and Hamlin County out-earns 6 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamlin County | - | $87,101 | $800/mo | 82% |
| Codington County, SD | 20 mi | $72,727 | $938/mo | 70% |
| Deuel County, SD | 25 mi | $83,112 | $642/mo | 83% |
| Kingsbury County, SD | 27 mi | $74,000 | $685/mo | 82% |
| Brookings County, SD | 28 mi | $70,064 | $901/mo | 57% |
| Clark County, SD | 29 mi | $70,726 | $782/mo | 78% |
| Grant County, SD | 39 mi | $75,028 | $763/mo | 76% |
A Hamlin County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Hamlin County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $7,258 gross per month ($87,101 / 12)
- Less median rent of $800, which is 11% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,813 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Hamlin County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Before borrowing in Hamlin County
Where the Hamlin County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Consolidating cards in Hamlin County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Who lives in Hamlin County, in numbers
24% of Hamlin County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 7.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Hamlin County | South Dakota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.8 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.5% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.1% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.7% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.3% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.9% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 0.5% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Hamlin County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.0% |
| 60+ min | 6.2% |
Licensing and complaints for Hamlin County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Hamlin County resident can confirm its license with the South Dakota Division of Banking. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The South Dakota guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Hamlin County applicants
Steps that save money for Hamlin County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Hamlin County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in South Dakota.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the South Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hamlin County a high-income county?
Its $87,101 median ranks 4th of 66 South Dakota counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Hamlin County?
$800 a month at the median, about 11% of median household income.
Does this page cover Lake Norden?
Yes, along with the other 8 Census places in Hamlin County, such as Estelline, Castlewood, Bryant.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Hamlin County or elsewhere in South Dakota, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Hamlin County residents?
The South Dakota Division of Banking licenses consumer lenders in South Dakota; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.