1st Advantage MortgageThe median Meade County household earns $74,790, and 7% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Meade County
- Paychecks and income spread in Meade County
- What it costs to live in Meade County
- Jobs and commutes in Meade County
- The counties around Meade County
- The communities that make up Meade County
- Debt-to-income at Meade County's medians
- Before borrowing in Meade County
- Meade County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in South Dakota
- More guides for Meade County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Meade County
With an estimated 30,546 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Meade County ranks 6th of 66 in South Dakota for population. Land area is 3,471 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 9 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Rapid City, SD metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Sturgis is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 7,086 people (23% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Meade County
Half of Meade County households take in less than $74,790 a year and half take in more, about the same as the South Dakota median of $75,081. That places it 22nd among South Dakota's 66 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Meade County | Gap to South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.8% | -5.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.4% | +5.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.5% | +0.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.3% | -0.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 35% of Meade County households make $100,000 or more, and 16% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 7.1%, 5 points lower than the state's 11.9%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.391 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Meade 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.
What it costs to live in Meade County
A typical Meade County rental runs $1,264 a month including utilities, which is 34% above South Dakota. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 38% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $310,900, about 4.2 times the median household income. Owners occupy 73% of homes. The median year built is 1990.
| Home costs | Meade County | South Dakota | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,264/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $310,900 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 23% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Meade 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.
Jobs and commutes in Meade County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Meade County residents work in education and health care and 13% in retail trade. Construction stands out: 10% of workers here, versus 8% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Meade County averages 3.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 2.9%). Long commutes are the exception here: 8% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 3.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Meade County | Compared with South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.9% | -1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.3 pts |
| Construction | 10.5% | +2.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.6% | +1.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.5% | -0.5 pts |
| Other services | 6.3% | +1.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The counties around Meade County
Pennington County is closest, 42 miles from center to center; the sixth, Haakon County, is 62 miles off. Income ranges from $53,958 in Ziebach County to $75,652 in Butte County; 1 of these neighbors top Meade County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meade County | - | $74,790 | $1,264/mo | 73% |
| Pennington County, SD | 42 mi | $74,517 | $1,120/mo | 69% |
| Butte County, SD | 44 mi | $75,652 | $972/mo | 76% |
| Lawrence County, SD | 57 mi | $73,384 | $938/mo | 65% |
| Ziebach County, SD | 58 mi | $53,958 | $734/mo | 57% |
| Perkins County, SD | 62 mi | $66,908 | $738/mo | 78% |
| Haakon County, SD | 62 mi | $65,625 | $584/mo | 79% |
The communities that make up Meade County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Meade County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 15,757 people, so roughly 48% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $119,271 at the median in Summerset, $53,866 in Piedmont. Median rent ranges from $780 in Sturgis to $1,288 in Summerset. This guide covers each of the 7 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sturgis | city | 7,086 | $54,404 | $780 | 41 mi |
| Summerset | city | 3,022 | $119,271 | $1,288 | 42 mi |
| Blackhawk | CDP | 2,934 | $71,993 | n/a | 44 mi |
| Piedmont | city | 981 | $53,866 | $1,170 | 42 mi |
| Wonderland Homes | CDP | 745 | $86,932 | n/a | 42 mi |
| Blucksberg Mountain | CDP | 692 | $89,500 | n/a | 40 mi |
| Faith | city | 297 | $47,083 | $383 | 44 mi |
Debt-to-income at Meade County's medians
Meade County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $6,232 gross per month ($74,790 / 12)
- 20% goes to median rent ($1,264)
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,416 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Meade County's.
Before borrowing in Meade County
Based on the Meade County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- 12% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Consolidating cards in Meade County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Meade County residents: age, schooling, coverage
28% of Meade County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 9% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Meade County | South Dakota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.8% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.0% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.4% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.8% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.1% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.7% |
| 60+ min | 2.9% |
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Meade County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the South Dakota license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Checking a lender's license in South Dakota
Meade County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the South Dakota Division of Banking. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the South Dakota state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Meade County
The South Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Meade County household make?
About $74,790 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24).
Is Meade County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,264 against $946 statewide, and 38% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Meade County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 73% of Meade County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Meade County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 7 Census places: Sturgis, Summerset, Blackhawk, Piedmont, Wonderland Homes.
Will a Meade County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming South Dakota as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.