1st Advantage MortgageAbout 85% of Miner County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $76,140. 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
- Miner County, SD: the basics
- Income in Miner County compared with South Dakota
- Renting and owning in Miner County
- The Miner County job picture
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Miner County
- Miner County next to its neighbors
- Miner County households compared
- Reading the Miner County data as a borrower
- Debt-to-income at Miner County's medians
- South Dakota rules that apply in Miner County
- Before you sign
- More guides for Miner County
- Frequently asked questions
Miner County, SD: the basics
With an estimated 2,300 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Miner County ranks 55th of 66 in South Dakota for population. Spread over 570 square miles, that works out to roughly 4.0 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Miner County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (4 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is Howard, with about 943 residents, or 41% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Miner County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Income in Miner County compared with South Dakota
Half of Miner County households take in less than $76,140 a year and half take in more, about the same as the South Dakota median of $75,081.
| Income band | Share in Miner County | Difference from South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.8% | -0.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.8% | +2.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.3% | -1.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.1% | -1.1 pts |
Some 21% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 33% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 11.2% of Miner County residents in poverty, against 11.9% across South Dakota. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.521 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $76,140 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Miner County
Renters in Miner County pay a median of $644 a month, 32% below the South Dakota figure of $946. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 20% of renter households here. With a median value of $142,600, a typical Miner County house costs 1.9 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 85% of homes.
| Miner County | South Dakota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $644/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $142,600 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 85% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 20% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.9% | 7.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 21% | 11% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Miner 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.
The Miner County job picture
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Miner County residents work in education and health care and 16% in agriculture, forestry and mining. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 16% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Miner County averages 0.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 2.9%). Long commutes are common here: 19% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Miner County share | +/- vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.0% | +1.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 15.6% | +9.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.8% | 0.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.6% | -2.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.9% | +3.6 pts |
| Other services | 7.3% | +2.7 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Miner County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Miner County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 1,266 residents, leaving about 45% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Miner County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard | city | 943 | $60,313 | $586 | 4 mi |
| Canova | town | 159 | $63,125 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Carthage | city | 78 | $46,875 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Fedora | CDP | 65 | $75,526 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Vilas | town | 21 | n/a | n/a | 1 mi |
| Cloverleaf Colony | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Roswell | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
| Shannon Colony | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
Miner County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 24 to 36 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $66,208 in Davison County to $83,852 in McCook County; 4 of these neighbors top Miner County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miner County | - | $76,140 | $644/mo | 85% |
| Sanborn County, SD | 24 mi | $78,750 | $725/mo | 79% |
| Lake County, SD | 24 mi | $76,808 | $947/mo | 74% |
| Kingsbury County, SD | 24 mi | $74,000 | $685/mo | 82% |
| Hanson County, SD | 25 mi | $81,071 | $782/mo | 89% |
| McCook County, SD | 27 mi | $83,852 | $945/mo | 79% |
| Davison County, SD | 36 mi | $66,208 | $847/mo | 61% |
Miner County households compared
College graduates make up 17% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 5.9%, against 9.0% for South Dakota.
| People and households | Miner County | South Dakota | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.4 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.7% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.4% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.9% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.5% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 0.3% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Miner County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 51.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.4% |
| 60+ min | 10.4% |
Reading the Miner County data as a borrower
Where the Miner County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Long drives. With 19% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Miner County budgets.
- Retirees. At a median age of 48.4, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Debt-to-income at Miner County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Miner County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,345 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $644 uses 10%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,640 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $644, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
South Dakota rules that apply in Miner County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Miner County, check the South Dakota Division of Banking. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: South Dakota guide.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Miner County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Miner County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Miner County-area credit union.
- A South Dakota license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
More guides for Miner County
The South Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Miner County household make?
About $76,140 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24).
Is Miner County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $644 against $946 statewide, and 20% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Miner County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 85% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Miner County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Howard, Canova, Carthage, Fedora, Vilas and 3 more.
Is the fit check different in Miner County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.