1st Advantage MortgageIn Hutchinson County, South Dakota, the typical household earns $73,977 a year and the typical rent is $727. 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
- Hutchinson County at a glance
- Hutchinson County housing compared with South Dakota
- Paychecks and income spread in Hutchinson County
- Employment and commuting in Hutchinson County
- The communities that make up Hutchinson County
- The counties around Hutchinson County
- Hutchinson County households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Hutchinson County
- Debt-to-income at Hutchinson County's medians
- Four steps for Hutchinson County borrowers
- South Dakota rules that apply in Hutchinson County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Hutchinson County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Hutchinson County's population at 7,404; only 23 of South Dakota's 66 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 813 square miles, that works out to roughly 9.1 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Hutchinson County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 13 Census places inside Hutchinson County, Parkston leads by population with about 1,874; 6 of the 13 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Hutchinson County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Hutchinson County housing compared with South Dakota
Renters in Hutchinson County pay a median of $727 a month, 23% below the South Dakota figure of $946. 29% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 13% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $163,000, about 2.2 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 77%. Half the housing stock was built before 1962.
| Cost | Hutchinson County | South Dakota figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $727/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $163,000 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 29% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 13% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.6% | 7.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 10% | 11% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Hutchinson 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.
Paychecks and income spread in Hutchinson County
Half of Hutchinson County households take in less than $73,977 a year and half take in more, about the same as the South Dakota median of $75,081. That places it 26th among South Dakota's 66 county-level areas.
| Band | Hutchinson County | Compared with South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.9% | -1.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.8% | -0.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.2% | +0.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.1% | +1.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 37% of Hutchinson County households make $100,000 or more, and 20% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 12.2%, the same as the state's 11.9%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.434 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Hutchinson County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Hutchinson County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Hutchinson County residents work in education and health care and 21% in agriculture, forestry and mining. Compared with South Dakota, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (21% against 6%). Averaged over the five survey years, 1.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 5.4% of the total (5.2% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Hutchinson County | Gap to South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.0% | +1.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 21.0% | +14.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.6% | -1.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.1% | -0.6 pts |
| Construction | 6.5% | -1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.4% | -3.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The communities that make up Hutchinson County
Here are the 13 most populous of the county's 13 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 70% of Hutchinson County residents live in one of the 13. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $57,440 in Freeman to $70,139 in Parkston. Rent is cheapest in Tripp ($334) and steepest in Freeman ($741). No Hutchinson County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 13.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parkston | city | 1,874 | $70,139 | $717 | 13 mi |
| Freeman | city | 1,565 | $57,440 | $741 | 16 mi |
| Menno | city | 653 | $65,833 | $396 | 11 mi |
| Tripp | city | 574 | $59,167 | $334 | 13 mi |
| Tschetter Colony | CDP | 148 | n/a | n/a | 4 mi |
| Dimock | town | 104 | $92,500 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Kaylor | CDP | 80 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Old Elm Spring Colony | CDP | 75 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Olivet | town | 63 | $60,417 | n/a | 8 mi |
| New Elm Spring Colony | CDP | 37 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Milltown | CDP | 4 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Maxwell Colony | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Wolf Creek Colony | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
The counties around Hutchinson County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Hutchinson County's, from 24 to 31 miles away. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Hutchinson County; Douglas County is highest at $86,442 and Bon Homme County lowest at $64,435.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hutchinson County | - | $73,977 | $727/mo | 77% |
| Hanson County, SD | 24 mi | $81,071 | $782/mo | 89% |
| Bon Homme County, SD | 25 mi | $64,435 | $646/mo | 80% |
| Yankton County, SD | 29 mi | $72,821 | $781/mo | 73% |
| Turner County, SD | 30 mi | $75,771 | $742/mo | 79% |
| McCook County, SD | 31 mi | $83,852 | $945/mo | 79% |
| Douglas County, SD | 31 mi | $86,442 | $877/mo | 77% |
Hutchinson County households compared
Degree holders: 29% of adults over 25. About 5% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Hutchinson County | South Dakota | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.8% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.7% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.1% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.4% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.2% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.6% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Hutchinson County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 53.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.9% |
| 60+ min | 4.1% |
Local borrowing considerations for Hutchinson County
What the Hutchinson County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Debt-to-income at Hutchinson County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Hutchinson County's medians:
- Start: $6,165 gross per month ($73,977 / 12)
- 12% goes to median rent ($727)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,492 left for all other debt payments
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,924 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Hutchinson County's.
Four steps for Hutchinson County borrowers
Quick steps for Hutchinson County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
South Dakota rules that apply in Hutchinson County
The South Dakota Division of Banking is the place to verify any lender's South Dakota license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on South Dakota: South Dakota personal loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the South Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Hutchinson County?
$73,977 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $75,081 for South Dakota. It ranks 26th of 66 in the state.
Is Hutchinson County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $727 against $946 statewide, and 29% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Hutchinson County?
By population: Parkston, Freeman, Menno, Tripp, Tschetter Colony. The county has 13 Census places in all.
Are Hutchinson 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.
Where can someone in Hutchinson 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.