1st Advantage MortgageThe median Kingsbury County household earns $74,000, and 11% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- 5,244 residents: Kingsbury County basics
- Renting and owning in Kingsbury County
- Where Kingsbury County works
- Where Kingsbury County differs from the rest of South Dakota
- Earnings across Kingsbury County households
- Kingsbury County, Miner County and other neighbors
- Towns and communities in Kingsbury County
- Debt-to-income, Kingsbury County edition
- Kingsbury County households compared
- Reading the Kingsbury County data as a borrower
- Before you sign
- South Dakota lender licensing
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
5,244 residents: Kingsbury County basics
Kingsbury County is home to about 5,244 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 35th most populous of 66 county-level areas in South Dakota. Kingsbury County spans 832 square miles; with 5,244 people, that is 6.3 per square mile. Kingsbury County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. Largest place: De Smet, about 943 residents (18% of Kingsbury County); 9 Census places in all. Because Kingsbury County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Renting and owning in Kingsbury County
Renters in Kingsbury County pay a median of $685 a month, 28% below the South Dakota figure of $946. About 5 in 10 Kingsbury County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. Kingsbury County homes are worth $169,500 at the median, a 2.3-to-1 ratio to income. Owners occupy 82% of homes.
| Housing | Kingsbury County | South Dakota statewide | Kingsbury County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 82% | 69% | +13.5 pts |
| Vacant units | 21% | 11% | +10.2 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 40% | +8.1 pts |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 23% | -5.2 pts |
| Median home value | $169,500 | $257,400 | 34% lower |
| Median gross rent | $685/mo | $946/mo | 28% lower |
| Mobile homes | 6.4% | 7.2% | -0.8 pts |
With 82% of Kingsbury County homes owner-occupied, equity is a real alternative for many readers; just remember a missed HELOC payment puts the home at risk.
Where Kingsbury County works
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Kingsbury County residents work in education and health care and 16% in manufacturing. Compared with South Dakota, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (13% against 6%). Averaged over the five survey years, 1.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 11%; under 15 minutes: 52%.
| Industry | Share of Kingsbury County workers | vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.0% | -3.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.7% | +5.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 13.0% | +6.7 pts |
| Construction | 10.4% | +2.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.8% | -2.7 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.2% | -1.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Where Kingsbury County differs from the rest of South Dakota
Where Kingsbury County lands at the extremes of South Dakota's county rankings:
- On the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent, Kingsbury County sits near the top of South Dakota at 48%, 4th highest of 66. Rent pressure leaves little room; stress-test any payment.
- Homeownership: 82% in Kingsbury County. Only 7 of 66 South Dakota counties are higher. An owner-heavy county means repairs are a common reason to borrow.
- Kingsbury County ranks 11th lowest of 64 South Dakota counties for the ACS unemployment rate: 1.0%, against 2.9% statewide. A tight job market helps steady income, but lenders still verify it.
Earnings across Kingsbury County households
Median household income in Kingsbury County: $74,000.
| Band | Kingsbury County | Compared with South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.0% | -0.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.9% | +0.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.4% | +3.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.7% | -2.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 36% of Kingsbury County households make $100,000 or more, and 20% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 10.6%, 1 point lower than the state's 11.9%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Kingsbury County, Miner County and other neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 38 miles). Richest neighbor: Hamlin County, $87,101. Poorest: Brookings County, $70,064. Kingsbury County: $74,000.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsbury County | - | $74,000 | $685/mo | 82% |
| Miner County, SD | 24 mi | $76,140 | $644/mo | 85% |
| Hamlin County, SD | 27 mi | $87,101 | $800/mo | 82% |
| Lake County, SD | 30 mi | $76,808 | $947/mo | 74% |
| Brookings County, SD | 35 mi | $70,064 | $901/mo | 57% |
| Clark County, SD | 36 mi | $70,726 | $782/mo | 78% |
| Sanborn County, SD | 38 mi | $78,750 | $725/mo | 79% |
Towns and communities in Kingsbury County
The table lists the 9 largest of 9 Census places in Kingsbury County, by population. Together all 9 hold about 2,331 people, so roughly 56% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Kingsbury County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| De Smet | city | 943 | $67,321 | $708 | 3 mi |
| Lake Preston | city | 596 | $52,396 | $615 | 6 mi |
| Iroquois | city | 389 | $59,926 | $504 | 17 mi |
| Badger | town | 162 | $65,000 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Erwin | town | 105 | $86,250 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Oldham | city | 75 | $33,750 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Spring Lake Colony | CDP | 35 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
| Bancroft | town | 16 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
| Hetland | town | 10 | $46,250 | n/a | 13 mi |
Debt-to-income, Kingsbury County edition
Kingsbury County's $74,000 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- Start: $6,167 gross per month ($74,000 / 12)
- Less median rent of $685, which is 11% of it
- $1,535: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 43% cap, $2,652 total minus rent leaves $1,967
Homeowners in Kingsbury County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
Kingsbury County households compared
Bachelor's degree or higher: 23% of Kingsbury County adults. Health coverage gaps: 5.3% of Kingsbury County residents are uninsured.
| People and households | Kingsbury County | Compared with South Dakota | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | +4.1 yrs | +0.6 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.1% | -8.8 pts | +0.9 pts |
| No high school diploma | 7.3% | +0.5 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.3% | -3.7 pts | -2.5 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | -1.2 pts | -1.4 pts |
| Work from home | 8.5% | -1.2 pts | -0.1 pts |
| Poverty rate | 10.6% | -1.3 pts | -2.6 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.0% | -1.9 pts | -3.4 pts |
| Commute length | Kingsbury County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 51.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.1% |
| 60+ min | 5.6% |
Reading the Kingsbury County data as a borrower
Where the Kingsbury County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Rent at $685. With 48% burdened, a short term and small amount keep risk down.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Kingsbury County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
South Dakota lender licensing
Consumer lenders serving Kingsbury County are licensed by the state, not the county; in South Dakota that is the South Dakota Division of Banking. If a Kingsbury County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. The South Dakota page has statewide figures to set beside Kingsbury County's.
Related local guides
The South Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kingsbury County a high-income county?
Its $74,000 median ranks 25th of 66 South Dakota counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Can a Kingsbury County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $685 median rent and $6,167 median monthly income, rent alone uses 11%; add other debts before a new payment.
Is home equity cheaper than a personal loan in Kingsbury County?
Often, because the home secures it. With 82% of Kingsbury County homes owner-occupied, weigh that lower cost against the risk to the house.
I live near De Smet. Which guide is mine?
This one. De Smet and the rest of Kingsbury County have no separate city guide.
Can Kingsbury County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every South Dakota county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.