1st Advantage MortgageThe median Jackson County household earns $35,417, and 42% 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 Jackson County
- Household income in Jackson County
- Renting and owning in Jackson County
- Work, industries and travel time in Jackson County
- Jackson County and the counties next door
- Towns and communities in Jackson County
- People and households in Jackson County
- Local borrowing considerations for Jackson County
- Room for a loan payment in Jackson County
- Steps before you apply in Jackson County
- Who licenses lenders for Jackson County residents
- More guides for Jackson County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Jackson County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Jackson County's population at 2,802; only 49 of South Dakota's 66 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 1,864 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 2 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Jackson County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Wanblee is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 534 people (19% of the county total). Because Jackson County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Household income in Jackson County
Jackson County households have a median income of $35,417 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 66th of 66 in South Dakota.
| Yearly household income | Jackson County | Gap to South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 49.8% | +28.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 32.9% | -10.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.9% | -11.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.4% | -6.7 pts |
About 50% of households earn under $35,000, while 17% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 42.4%, 30 points higher than the state's 11.9%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.518 here. None of these numbers decides a Jackson County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Jackson County
Renters in Jackson County pay a median of $442 a month, 53% below the South Dakota figure of $946. 43% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 35% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $117,300, about 3.3 times the median household income. Owners occupy 67% of homes.
| Home costs | Jackson County | South Dakota | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $442/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $117,300 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 63% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 19.6% | 7.2% | n/a |
Work, industries and travel time in Jackson County
By the Census industry count, 31% of employed Jackson County residents work in education and health care and 25% in agriculture, forestry and mining. Compared with South Dakota, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (25% against 6%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 7.2% in Jackson County. Long commutes are the exception here: 4% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 12.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Jackson County | Compared with South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.8% | +5.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 25.1% | +18.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.7% | +0.1 pts |
| Public administration | 7.7% | +2.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.5% | -1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 4.4% | -5.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Jackson County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (34 to 56 miles). Haakon County leads the group on income ($65,625), Oglala Lakota County trails ($41,417), and Jackson County out-earns 0 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | - | $35,417 | $442/mo | 67% |
| Bennett County, SD | 34 mi | $53,750 | $617/mo | 61% |
| Haakon County, SD | 42 mi | $65,625 | $584/mo | 79% |
| Mellette County, SD | 44 mi | $54,076 | $708/mo | 60% |
| Jones County, SD | 51 mi | $65,119 | $543/mo | 76% |
| Oglala Lakota County, SD | 53 mi | $41,417 | $584/mo | 51% |
| Todd County, SD | 56 mi | $42,075 | $532/mo | 46% |
Towns and communities in Jackson County
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 42% of Jackson County residents live in one of the 5. None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wanblee | CDP | 534 | n/a | $399 | 8 mi |
| Kadoka | city | 372 | $43,750 | $413 | 12 mi |
| Belvidere | town | 114 | $50,469 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Interior | town | 77 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
| Cottonwood | town | 66 | n/a | n/a | 25 mi |
People and households in Jackson County
12% of Jackson County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 27.4%, against 9.0% for South Dakota.
| Residents | Jackson County | South Dakota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.3 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.4% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.1% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 27.4% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 12.8% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 42.4% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.2% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 73.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 11.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.1% |
| 60+ min | 0.8% |
Local borrowing considerations for Jackson County
Based on the Jackson County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Medical bills. 27% of Jackson County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Mobile home upkeep. 20% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Assistance before credit. With a 42% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Jackson County loan.
Room for a loan payment in Jackson County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Jackson County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $2,951 a month: gross income for a household at the Jackson County median
- Housing at the median rent of $442 uses 15%
- At 40%, room after rent is $739 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Jackson County's.
Steps before you apply in Jackson County
A short checklist for Jackson County borrowers:
- 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.
- Verify the South Dakota license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Who licenses lenders for Jackson County residents
Jackson County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the South Dakota Division of Banking. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: South Dakota guide.
More guides for Jackson County
For statewide rules and data, see the South Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Jackson County household make?
About $35,417 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 53% below the South Dakota median.
Is Jackson County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $442 against $946 statewide, and 43% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Wanblee?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Jackson County, such as Kadoka, Belvidere, Interior.
Are Jackson 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for Jackson 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.