1st Advantage MortgageMoody County households have a median income of $78,427 and median rent of $758 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Moody County by the numbers
- Jobs and commutes in Moody County
- What Moody County households earn
- Renting and owning in Moody County
- Counties near Moody County
- The communities that make up Moody County
- Moody County households compared
- Reading the Moody County data as a borrower
- Debt-to-income at Moody County's medians
- Checking a lender's license in South Dakota
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Moody County by the numbers
Moody County is home to about 6,397 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 27th most populous of 66 county-level areas in South Dakota. It covers 519 square miles of land, or about 12 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Moody County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 6 Census places inside Moody County, Flandreau leads by population with about 2,392; 5 of the 6 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Moody County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Jobs and commutes in Moody County
The biggest employer of Moody County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by construction (12%). Compared with South Dakota, the county leans toward construction (12% against 8%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.8% in Moody County. 12% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home.
| Top industries | Moody County share | +/- vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.8% | +0.9 pts |
| Construction | 11.6% | +3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.3% | +1.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.8% | +0.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.9% | +2.6 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
What Moody County households earn
Half of Moody County households take in less than $78,427 a year and half take in more, 4% above the South Dakota median of $75,081.
| Band | Moody County | Compared with South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.0% | +1.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.6% | -2.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.5% | +2.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.8% | -1.3 pts |
Some 22% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 36% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 11.6% of Moody County residents in poverty, against 11.9% across South Dakota. None of these numbers decides a Moody County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Moody County
Renters in Moody County pay a median of $758 a month, 20% below the South Dakota figure of $946. 42% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 27% spend half or more. Home values center on $226,500, or 2.9 years of median income. The ownership rate is 73%. Half the housing stock was built before 1972.
| Moody County | South Dakota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $758/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $226,500 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 23% | n/a |
Because most Moody County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Counties near Moody County
Six nearby counties, 21 to 34 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Minnehaha County leads the group on income ($76,880), Pipestone County trails ($69,628), and Moody County out-earns 6 of the six. Some neighbors are in Minnesota. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Moody County resident follows South Dakota rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moody County | - | $78,427 | $758/mo | 73% |
| Pipestone County, MN | 21 mi | $69,628 | $754/mo | 81% |
| Lake County, SD | 22 mi | $76,808 | $947/mo | 74% |
| Minnehaha County, SD | 25 mi | $76,880 | $978/mo | 63% |
| Brookings County, SD | 26 mi | $70,064 | $901/mo | 57% |
| Rock County, MN | 31 mi | $71,295 | $698/mo | 77% |
| Lincoln County, MN | 34 mi | $69,694 | $674/mo | 81% |
The communities that make up Moody County
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 61% of Moody County residents live in one of the 6. None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flandreau | city | 2,392 | $49,157 | $763 | 4 mi |
| Colman | city | 948 | $76,146 | $733 | 7 mi |
| Trent | town | 341 | $74,063 | $757 | 7 mi |
| Egan | city | 194 | $63,482 | n/a | 2 mi |
| Ward | town | 52 | $76,875 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Pleasant Valley Colony | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
Moody County households compared
Degree holders: 30% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 11.0%, against 9.0% for South Dakota.
| Residents | Moody County | South Dakota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.4% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.9% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.0% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.8% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 57.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 14.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.8% |
| 60+ min | 6.9% |
Reading the Moody County data as a borrower
What the Moody County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Debt-to-income at Moody County's medians
Moody County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $6,536 a month: gross income for a household at the Moody County median
- Rent at the median, $758, takes 12% of that
- $1,856: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Checking a lender's license in South Dakota
Consumer lenders serving Moody County are licensed by the state, not the county; in South Dakota that is 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.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the South Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Moody County earn?
The median is $78,427; 36% earn $100,000 or more and 22% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Moody County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $758 a month; 42% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Moody County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Flandreau, Colman, Trent, Egan, Ward and 1 more.
Will a Moody 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.
Where can someone in Moody County check a lender's license?
With the South Dakota Division of Banking. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.