1st Advantage MortgageThe median Oglala Lakota County household earns $41,417, and 58% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in South Dakota before sharing details.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Oglala Lakota County
- Employment and commuting in Oglala Lakota County
- What Oglala Lakota County households earn
- What it costs to live in Oglala Lakota County
- Places inside Oglala Lakota County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Room for a loan payment in Oglala Lakota County
- More Oglala Lakota County figures
- What the numbers mean for Oglala Lakota County borrowers
- A Oglala Lakota County borrower's checklist
- Lender oversight for Oglala Lakota County
- More guides for Oglala Lakota County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Oglala Lakota County
Oglala Lakota County is home to about 13,491 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 15th most populous of 66 county-level areas in South Dakota. Land area is 2,094 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 6 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (1 incorporated, 6 census-designated); the largest is Pine Ridge, with about 2,246 residents, or 17% of the county.
Employment and commuting in Oglala Lakota County
The biggest employer of Oglala Lakota County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 52% of workers, followed by public administration (14%). The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 52% locally and 25% for South Dakota. The survey's unemployment rate for Oglala Lakota County averages 16.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 2.9%). About 72% drive to work alone and 6% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Oglala Lakota County workers | vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 52.3% | +27.3 pts |
| Public administration | 14.1% | +9.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.8% | +3.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.0% | -1.4 pts |
| Construction | 7.0% | -0.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 2.8% | -8.7 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
What Oglala Lakota County households earn
Half of Oglala Lakota County households take in less than $41,417 a year and half take in more, 45% below the South Dakota median of $75,081. Only 64 South Dakota counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Oglala Lakota County | vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 46.5% | +25.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.6% | -1.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 7.7% | -19.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.2% | -5.0 pts |
About 46% of households earn under $35,000, while 11% clear $100,000. 57.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.9%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.505 here. For a borrower in Oglala Lakota 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 Oglala Lakota County
Renters in Oglala Lakota County pay a median of $584 a month, 38% below the South Dakota figure of $946. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 26% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $52,900, about 1.3 times the median household income. Owners occupy 51% of homes.
| Housing | Oglala Lakota County | South Dakota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $584/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $52,900 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 51% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 26% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 50% | 23% | n/a |
With renters making up 49% of households, many Oglala Lakota County borrowers have no home equity to fall back on, so the cheapest written offer on an unsecured loan matters more.
Places inside Oglala Lakota County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 43% of Oglala Lakota County residents live in one of the 7. Incomes vary by place: $53,060 at the median in Pine Ridge, $2,499 in Wounded Knee. Median rent ranges from $584 in Manderson-White Horse Creek to $750 in Pine Ridge. No Oglala Lakota County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pine Ridge | CDP | 2,246 | $53,060 | $750 | 21 mi |
| Oglala | CDP | 1,071 | $21,330 | $605 | 12 mi |
| Manderson-White Horse Creek | CDP | 833 | n/a | $584 | 8 mi |
| Kyle | CDP | 667 | $36,250 | $634 | 20 mi |
| Wounded Knee | CDP | 524 | $2,499 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Porcupine | CDP | 424 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Batesland | town | 89 | n/a | n/a | 27 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Bennett County at 46 miles out to Jackson County at 53. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Oglala Lakota County; Custer County is highest at $84,112 and Jackson County lowest at $35,417. The list crosses into Nebraska, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oglala Lakota County | - | $41,417 | $584/mo | 51% |
| Bennett County, SD | 46 mi | $53,750 | $617/mo | 61% |
| Pennington County, SD | 48 mi | $74,517 | $1,120/mo | 69% |
| Fall River County, SD | 48 mi | $67,917 | $931/mo | 72% |
| Custer County, SD | 51 mi | $84,112 | $1,112/mo | 86% |
| Dawes County, NE | 52 mi | $56,280 | $900/mo | 62% |
| Jackson County, SD | 53 mi | $35,417 | $442/mo | 67% |
Room for a loan payment in Oglala Lakota County
Here is the Oglala Lakota County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Oglala Lakota County: $3,451
- Rent at the median, $584, takes 17% of that
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $624 left for all other debt payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $969 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Oglala Lakota County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
More Oglala Lakota County figures
Degree holders: 12% of adults over 25. About 45% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Oglala Lakota County | South Dakota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.2 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 11.8% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 25.6% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 44.6% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 22.5% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 57.6% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 16.4% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Oglala Lakota County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 63.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.0% |
| 60+ min | 1.9% |
What the numbers mean for Oglala Lakota County borrowers
Where the Oglala Lakota County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Health costs. With 45% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Manufactured homes. 28% of Oglala Lakota County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- 58% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
A Oglala Lakota County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Oglala Lakota County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A South Dakota license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Lender oversight for Oglala Lakota County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Oglala Lakota County borrowers answers to the South Dakota Division of Banking. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on South Dakota: South Dakota personal loans.
More guides for Oglala Lakota County
For statewide rules and data, see the South Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Oglala Lakota County household make?
About $41,417 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 45% below the South Dakota median.
What do renters pay in Oglala Lakota County?
$584 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
Does this page cover Pine Ridge?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Oglala Lakota County, such as Oglala, Manderson-White Horse Creek, Kyle.
Is the fit check different in Oglala Lakota County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Oglala Lakota County?
Start with the South Dakota Division of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.