1st Advantage MortgageThe median Minnehaha County household earns $76,880, and 9% 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
- Minnehaha County at a glance
- What Minnehaha County households earn
- Minnehaha County housing compared with South Dakota
- How Minnehaha County residents earn a living
- Minnehaha County and the counties next door
- Towns and communities in Minnehaha County
- Minnehaha County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Minnehaha County
- A Minnehaha County household budget, worked through
- Licensing and complaints for Minnehaha County
- Checklist for Minnehaha County applicants
- More guides for Minnehaha County
- Frequently asked questions
Minnehaha County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Minnehaha County's population at 203,289, the largest in South Dakota. Packed into 807 square miles, that is close to 252 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Sioux Falls is the biggest of its 17 Census places, at roughly 201,469 people (99% of the county total).
What Minnehaha County households earn
At $76,880, the typical Minnehaha County household income is 17% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 16th of 66.
| Households earning | Minnehaha County | +/- vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.5% | -2.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.8% | +0.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.6% | +1.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.2% | +1.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 38% of Minnehaha County households make $100,000 or more, and 18% make less than $35,000. 8.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.9%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.440 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Minnehaha 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.
Minnehaha County housing compared with South Dakota
Renters in Minnehaha County pay a median of $978 a month, 3% above the South Dakota figure of $946. By the Census definition, 41% of Minnehaha County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $287,600, a typical Minnehaha County house costs 3.7 times what the median household earns in a year. 63% of Minnehaha County households own their home and 37% rent.
| Measure | Minnehaha County | South Dakota | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $978/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $287,600 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 63% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.9% | 7.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 5% | 11% | n/a |
How Minnehaha County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Minnehaha County residents work in education and health care and 12% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in finance, insurance and real estate, at 10% locally and 7% for South Dakota. The survey's unemployment rate for Minnehaha County averages 2.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 2.9%). 4% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 11% work from home. Households without a car make up 5.6% of the total (5.2% statewide).
| Where residents work | Minnehaha County | Difference from South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.8% | -1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +0.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.8% | +1.1 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 10.1% | +3.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | +0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.1% | +1.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Minnehaha County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Minnehaha County's, from 25 to 31 miles away. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Minnehaha County; Lincoln County is highest at $99,166 and Rock County lowest at $71,295. Some neighbors are in Minnesota. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Minnehaha County resident follows South Dakota rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnehaha County | - | $76,880 | $978/mo | 63% |
| Moody County, SD | 25 mi | $78,427 | $758/mo | 73% |
| Rock County, MN | 27 mi | $71,295 | $698/mo | 77% |
| Lincoln County, SD | 27 mi | $99,166 | $1,260/mo | 71% |
| McCook County, SD | 28 mi | $83,852 | $945/mo | 79% |
| Lake County, SD | 30 mi | $76,808 | $947/mo | 74% |
| Turner County, SD | 31 mi | $75,771 | $742/mo | 79% |
Towns and communities in Minnehaha County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 17 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 100% of Minnehaha County residents live in one of the 17. Brandon has the highest median household income on the list ($110,806) and Garretson the lowest ($59,741), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Garretson ($697) and steepest in Baltic ($1,232). No Minnehaha County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 17.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | city | 201,469 | $75,970 | $1,035 | 9 mi |
| Brandon | city | 10,996 | $110,806 | $976 | 12 mi |
| Dell Rapids | city | 3,905 | $100,170 | $962 | 12 mi |
| Hartford | city | 3,478 | $99,893 | $938 | 8 mi |
| Baltic | city | 1,502 | $107,768 | $1,232 | 7 mi |
| Crooks | city | 1,268 | $98,984 | $1,135 | 1 mi |
| Garretson | city | 1,176 | $59,741 | $697 | 15 mi |
| Valley Springs | city | 996 | $107,222 | $1,028 | 18 mi |
| Meadow View Addition | CDP | 879 | $99,760 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Colton | city | 736 | $83,750 | $736 | 11 mi |
| Humboldt | town | 732 | $95,469 | $745 | 14 mi |
| Pine Lakes Addition | CDP | 282 | $170,795 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Renner Corner | CDP | 279 | $96,050 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Rowena | CDP | 225 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
Minnehaha County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 35% of the adult population. 8.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Minnehaha County | South Dakota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.0 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 35.2% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.3% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.2% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.6% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.8% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.5% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Minnehaha County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 46.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.7% |
| 60+ min | 2.4% |
Borrowing situations common in Minnehaha County
What the Minnehaha County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Consolidating cards in Minnehaha County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
A Minnehaha County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Minnehaha County's medians:
- Start: $6,407 gross per month ($76,880 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $978 uses 15%
- Under a 35% cap, $2,242 total minus rent leaves $1,264
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,905 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Licensing and complaints for Minnehaha County
Minnehaha County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the South Dakota Division of Banking. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: South Dakota guide.
Checklist for Minnehaha County applicants
Quick steps for Minnehaha County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the South Dakota license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Minnehaha County
The South Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Minnehaha County earn?
The median is $76,880; 38% earn $100,000 or more and 18% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Minnehaha County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $978 against $946 statewide, and 41% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Minnehaha County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Sioux Falls, Brandon, Dell Rapids, Hartford, Baltic and 12 more.
Does living in Minnehaha 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 Minnehaha County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Minnehaha 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.