1st Advantage MortgageThe median Lincoln County household earns $99,166, and 6% 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
- Lincoln County at a glance
- How Lincoln County residents earn a living
- How much Lincoln County households make
- Renting and owning in Lincoln County
- The counties around Lincoln County
- The communities that make up Lincoln County
- Lincoln County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Lincoln County
- Budget math at the Lincoln County median
- Lender oversight for Lincoln County
- Steps before you apply in Lincoln County
- More guides for Lincoln County
- Frequently asked questions
Lincoln County at a glance
Lincoln County is home to about 70,638 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 3rd most populous of 66 county-level areas in South Dakota. It covers 577 square miles of land, or about 122 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metropolitan area. Of the 9 Census places inside Lincoln County, Harrisburg leads by population with about 8,519; 8 of the 9 are incorporated.
How Lincoln County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 29% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. Finance, insurance and real estate stands out: 11% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Lincoln County averages 1.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 2.9%). 5% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 12% work from home. Households without a car make up 2.1% of the total (5.2% statewide).
| Sector | Lincoln County | Compared with South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.1% | +4.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +0.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 10.8% | +4.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.9% | +2.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.0% | -1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.9% | -2.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
How much Lincoln County households make
Lincoln County households have a median income of $99,166 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 1st of 66 in South Dakota.
| Households earning | Lincoln County | +/- vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 10.2% | -10.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.6% | -3.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 36.0% | +8.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 13.3% | +5.1 pts |
About 10% of households earn under $35,000, while 49% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 5.6%, 6 points lower than the state's 11.9%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.438 here. For a borrower in Lincoln County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Renting and owning in Lincoln County
A typical Lincoln County rental runs $1,260 a month including utilities, which is 33% above South Dakota. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 37% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $348,300, about 3.5 times the median household income. Owners occupy 71% of homes.
| Cost | Lincoln County | South Dakota figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,260/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $348,300 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 23% | n/a |
The counties around Lincoln County
Turner County is closest, 22 miles from center to center; the sixth, Union County, is 31 miles off. Income ranges from $56,850 in Clay County to $89,636 in Union County; none of these neighbors top Lincoln County's median. Some neighbors are in Iowa. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Lincoln County resident follows South Dakota rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | - | $99,166 | $1,260/mo | 71% |
| Turner County, SD | 22 mi | $75,771 | $742/mo | 79% |
| Lyon County, IA | 27 mi | $76,746 | $843/mo | 81% |
| Minnehaha County, SD | 27 mi | $76,880 | $978/mo | 63% |
| Clay County, SD | 28 mi | $56,850 | $770/mo | 51% |
| Sioux County, IA | 31 mi | $86,098 | $908/mo | 76% |
| Union County, SD | 31 mi | $89,636 | $1,069/mo | 73% |
The communities that make up Lincoln County
Here are the 9 most populous of the county's 9 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 36% of Lincoln County residents live in one of the 9. Incomes vary by place: $146,154 at the median in Shindler, $60,850 in Canton. Rent is cheapest in Canton ($673) and steepest in Harrisburg ($1,362). No Lincoln County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 9.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg | city | 8,519 | $108,724 | $1,362 | 11 mi |
| Tea | city | 6,786 | $120,139 | $1,220 | 13 mi |
| Canton | city | 3,033 | $60,850 | $673 | 7 mi |
| Lennox | city | 2,468 | $81,761 | $745 | 10 mi |
| Beresford | city | 2,360 | $78,793 | $914 | 14 mi |
| Worthing | city | 1,036 | $93,162 | $1,092 | 4 mi |
| Shindler | CDP | 579 | $146,154 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Hudson | town | 382 | $66,429 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Fairview | town | 102 | $71,719 | n/a | 12 mi |
Lincoln County residents: age, schooling, coverage
44% of Lincoln County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 4.1%, against 9.0% for South Dakota.
| Residents | Lincoln County | South Dakota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 44.4% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.5% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.1% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.1% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.3% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.6% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.7% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 53.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.5% |
| 60+ min | 3.2% |
Before borrowing in Lincoln County
Where the Lincoln County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Higher earners. 49% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Budget math at the Lincoln County median
Here is the Lincoln County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $99,166 a year is $8,264 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $1,260, which is 15% of it
- At 40%, room after rent is $2,046 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Lincoln County's.
Lender oversight for Lincoln County
Lincoln County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the South Dakota Division of Banking. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on South Dakota: South Dakota personal loans.
Steps before you apply in Lincoln County
A short checklist for Lincoln County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in South Dakota.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
More guides for Lincoln County
For statewide rules and data, see the South Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Lincoln County?
$99,166 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $75,081 for South Dakota. It ranks 1st of 66 in the state.
What do renters pay in Lincoln County?
$1,260 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
I own my home in Lincoln County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 71% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Lincoln County?
By population: Harrisburg, Tea, Canton, Lennox, Beresford. The county has 9 Census places in all.
Are Lincoln 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.