1st Advantage MortgageIn Marshall County, South Dakota, the typical household earns $78,156 a year and the typical rent is $752. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in South Dakota before sharing details.
On this page
- Marshall County, SD: the basics
- How Marshall County residents earn a living
- What Marshall County households earn
- Marshall County housing compared with South Dakota
- The counties around Marshall County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Marshall County
- A Marshall County household budget, worked through
- What the numbers mean for Marshall County borrowers
- People and households in Marshall County
- Before you sign
- Who licenses lenders for Marshall County residents
- More guides for Marshall County
- Frequently asked questions
Marshall County, SD: the basics
Roughly 4,344 residents live in Marshall County, South Dakota, 37th by population among the state's 66 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 838 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 5 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Marshall County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 10 Census places inside Marshall County, Britton leads by population with about 988; 5 of the 10 are incorporated. With so few households sampled, Marshall County estimates can move a lot between releases.
How Marshall County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Marshall County residents, by industry, is agriculture, forestry and mining at 17% of workers, followed by education and health care (15%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 17% locally and 6% for South Dakota. The survey's unemployment rate for Marshall County averages 0.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 2.9%). Long commutes are the exception here: 8% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 2.3% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Marshall County share | +/- vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 17.2% | +10.8 pts |
| Education and health care | 15.3% | -9.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.0% | +4.3 pts |
| Construction | 11.3% | +3.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.2% | -3.3 pts |
| Public administration | 6.8% | +1.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Marshall County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What Marshall County households earn
The median household income in Marshall County is $78,156; statewide it is $75,081, so Marshall County runs 4% above South Dakota as a whole. In the state ranking that is 15th of 66.
| Yearly household income | Marshall County | Gap to South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.1% | -1.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.3% | +0.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.1% | +0.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.5% | +0.4 pts |
Some 19% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 37% have six-figure incomes. 6.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.9%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.449 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Marshall 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.
Marshall County housing compared with South Dakota
Renters in Marshall County pay a median of $752 a month, 21% below the South Dakota figure of $946. By the Census definition, 25% of Marshall County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $156,500, or 2.0 years of median income. The ownership rate is 80%. Median construction year: 1970.
| Home costs | Marshall County | South Dakota | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $752/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $156,500 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 25% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 7% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 32% | 11% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
The counties around Marshall County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Marshall County's, from 26 to 49 miles away. None of the six report a higher median household income than Marshall County; Sargent County is highest at $77,946 and Roberts County lowest at $65,130. The list crosses into North Dakota, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall County | - | $78,156 | $752/mo | 80% |
| Sargent County, ND | 26 mi | $77,946 | $816/mo | 72% |
| Day County, SD | 26 mi | $66,033 | $660/mo | 75% |
| Roberts County, SD | 32 mi | $65,130 | $658/mo | 71% |
| Brown County, SD | 39 mi | $70,898 | $777/mo | 68% |
| Richland County, ND | 48 mi | $75,432 | $740/mo | 68% |
| Ransom County, ND | 49 mi | $75,736 | $691/mo | 75% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Marshall County
The table lists the 10 largest of 10 Census places in Marshall County, by population. Together all 10 hold about 2,302 people, so roughly 47% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 10 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Britton | city | 988 | $62,898 | $798 | 9 mi |
| Langford | town | 481 | $79,375 | $688 | 15 mi |
| Veblen | city | 455 | $64,167 | $713 | 17 mi |
| Eden | town | 221 | n/a | $775 | 11 mi |
| Sunset Colony | CDP | 68 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
| Clear Lake | CDP | 41 | $18,750 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Lake City | town | 40 | $41,563 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Kidder | CDP | 8 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Newport Colony | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
| Westwood Colony | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
A Marshall County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Marshall County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Marshall County: $6,513
- 12% goes to median rent ($752)
- Under a 40% cap, $2,605 total minus rent leaves $1,853
If your rent is above $752, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
What the numbers mean for Marshall County borrowers
Based on the Marshall County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
People and households in Marshall County
25% of Marshall County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Marshall County | South Dakota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.4% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.6% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.9% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.3% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.1% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 0.3% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 56.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.1% |
| 60+ min | 4.5% |
Before you sign
A short checklist for Marshall County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A South Dakota license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Who licenses lenders for Marshall County residents
Marshall County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the South Dakota Division of Banking. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The South Dakota guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Marshall County
The South Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Marshall County earn?
The median is $78,156; 37% earn $100,000 or more and 19% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Marshall County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $752 against $946 statewide, and 25% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Marshall County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 80% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Marshall County?
By population: Britton, Langford, Veblen, Eden, Sunset Colony. The county has 10 Census places in all.
Does living in Marshall County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Marshall County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.