1st Advantage MortgageAbout 60% of Mellette County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $54,076. 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
- A quick profile of Mellette County
- What it costs to live in Mellette County
- How much Mellette County households make
- How Mellette County residents earn a living
- The counties around Mellette County
- The communities that make up Mellette County
- A Mellette County household budget, worked through
- Mellette County households compared
- Reading the Mellette County data as a borrower
- Checking a lender's license in South Dakota
- Steps before you apply in Mellette County
- More guides for Mellette County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Mellette County
Roughly 1,943 residents live in Mellette County, South Dakota, 58th by population among the state's 66 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 1,307 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 5 Census places inside Mellette County, White River leads by population with about 606; 2 of the 5 are incorporated. With so few households sampled, Mellette County estimates can move a lot between releases.
What it costs to live in Mellette County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $708 in Mellette County versus $946 statewide. 26% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 10% spend half or more. With a median value of $84,100, a typical Mellette County house costs 1.6 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 60%. Median construction year: 1969.
| Home costs | Mellette County | South Dakota | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $708/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $84,100 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 60% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 26% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 21.4% | 7.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 18% | 11% | n/a |
How much Mellette County households make
Half of Mellette County households take in less than $54,076 a year and half take in more, 28% below the South Dakota median of $75,081.
| Household income | Mellette County | vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 36.8% | +15.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.5% | +0.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 9.5% | -17.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.2% | +1.1 pts |
About 37% of households earn under $35,000, while 19% clear $100,000. Census counts 41.7% of Mellette County residents in poverty, against 11.9% across South Dakota. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.501 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Mellette County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Mellette County residents earn a living
Agriculture, forestry and mining employs 33% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 30%. Compared with South Dakota, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (33% against 6%). Averaged over the five survey years, 12.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 6% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Mellette County share | +/- vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 32.6% | +26.2 pts |
| Education and health care | 29.6% | +4.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 14.2% | +5.8 pts |
| Construction | 7.3% | -0.4 pts |
| Public administration | 7.1% | +2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 3.6% | -8.0 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 Mellette County
Jones County is closest, 26 miles from center to center; the sixth, Bennett County, is 54 miles off. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Mellette County; Lyman County is highest at $67,143 and Jackson County lowest at $35,417.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mellette County | - | $54,076 | $708/mo | 60% |
| Jones County, SD | 26 mi | $65,119 | $543/mo | 76% |
| Todd County, SD | 26 mi | $42,075 | $532/mo | 46% |
| Jackson County, SD | 44 mi | $35,417 | $442/mo | 67% |
| Tripp County, SD | 47 mi | $58,987 | $820/mo | 68% |
| Lyman County, SD | 50 mi | $67,143 | $651/mo | 70% |
| Bennett County, SD | 54 mi | $53,750 | $617/mo | 61% |
The communities that make up Mellette County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Mellette County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 1,061 people, so roughly 45% of residents live outside any named place. No Mellette County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White River | city | 606 | $82,692 | $1,125 | 1 mi |
| Horse Creek | CDP | 162 | n/a | $400 | 3 mi |
| Norris | CDP | 140 | n/a | n/a | 23 mi |
| Corn Creek | CDP | 113 | $2,499 | n/a | 23 mi |
| Wood | town | 40 | $43,077 | n/a | 15 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
A Mellette County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Mellette County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $4,506 a month: gross income for a household at the Mellette County median
- Housing at the median rent of $708 uses 16%
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,230 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Mellette County households compared
19% of Mellette County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 25.0%, against 9.0% for South Dakota.
| Residents | Mellette County | South Dakota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.1% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.5% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 25.0% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.9% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 41.7% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 12.5% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
Reading the Mellette County data as a borrower
Where the Mellette County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Health costs. With 25% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- 21% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Assistance before credit. With a 42% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Mellette County loan.
Checking a lender's license in South Dakota
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Mellette County, check the South Dakota Division of Banking. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on South Dakota: South Dakota personal loans.
Steps before you apply in Mellette County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Mellette County:
- Price the Mellette County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in South Dakota.
- Ask a Mellette County credit union about member loans.
More guides for Mellette County
For statewide rules and data, see the South Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mellette County a high-income county?
Its $54,076 median ranks 59th of 66 South Dakota counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Mellette County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $708 against $946 statewide, and 26% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover White River?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Mellette County, such as Horse Creek, Norris, Corn Creek.
Are Mellette 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 Mellette 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.