1st Advantage MortgageIn Roberts County, South Dakota, the typical household earns $65,130 a year and the typical rent is $658. 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
- A quick profile of Roberts County
- What Roberts County households earn
- Employment and commuting in Roberts County
- Roberts County housing compared with South Dakota
- Roberts County next to its neighbors
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Roberts County
- A Roberts County household budget, worked through
- Reading the Roberts County data as a borrower
- Roberts County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Checklist for Roberts County applicants
- South Dakota rules that apply in Roberts County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Roberts County
Roberts County is home to about 10,221 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 18th most populous of 66 county-level areas in South Dakota. It covers 1,101 square miles of land, or about 9 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 14 Census places inside Roberts County, Sisseton leads by population with about 2,670; 10 of the 14 are incorporated.
What Roberts County households earn
Half of Roberts County households take in less than $65,130 a year and half take in more, 13% below the South Dakota median of $75,081. That places it 49th among South Dakota's 66 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Roberts County | +/- vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.3% | +3.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.6% | +4.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.5% | -4.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.7% | -2.5 pts |
About 24% of households earn under $35,000, while 28% clear $100,000. 15.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.9%). None of these numbers decides a Roberts County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Roberts County
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Roberts County residents work in education and health care and 13% in agriculture, forestry and mining. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 13% locally and 6% for South Dakota. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.0% in Roberts County. About 75% drive to work alone and 5% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 4.6% of the total (5.2% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Roberts County workers | vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.6% | -0.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 13.3% | +7.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.1% | +0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.5% | +1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.0% | -2.5 pts |
| Public administration | 8.3% | +3.3 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Roberts County housing compared with South Dakota
Renters in Roberts County pay a median of $658 a month, 30% below the South Dakota figure of $946. By the Census definition, 30% of Roberts County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $154,500, or 2.4 years of median income. The ownership rate is 71%. Half the housing stock was built before 1974.
| Housing | Roberts County | South Dakota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $658/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $154,500 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 30% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.6% | 7.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 25% | 11% | n/a |
Roberts County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (25 to 44 miles). Income ranges from $62,989 in Traverse County to $78,156 in Marshall County; 5 of these neighbors top Roberts County's median. The list crosses into Minnesota, North Dakota, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roberts County | - | $65,130 | $658/mo | 71% |
| Traverse County, MN | 25 mi | $62,989 | $615/mo | 82% |
| Big Stone County, MN | 30 mi | $70,400 | $745/mo | 80% |
| Marshall County, SD | 32 mi | $78,156 | $752/mo | 80% |
| Grant County, SD | 32 mi | $75,028 | $763/mo | 76% |
| Day County, SD | 36 mi | $66,033 | $660/mo | 75% |
| Richland County, ND | 44 mi | $75,432 | $740/mo | 68% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Roberts County
14 Census places fall mainly inside Roberts County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 5,758 residents, leaving about 44% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 14 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sisseton | city | 2,670 | $48,875 | $596 | 5 mi |
| Agency Village | CDP | 980 | $50,625 | $702 | 7 mi |
| Rosholt | town | 428 | $64,861 | $875 | 20 mi |
| Wilmot | city | 381 | $59,583 | $608 | 15 mi |
| Summit | town | 359 | $60,000 | $763 | 22 mi |
| New Effington | town | 269 | $50,208 | $510 | 16 mi |
| Peever | town | 145 | $41,750 | $579 | 6 mi |
| Long Hollow | CDP | 128 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Peever Flats | CDP | 119 | $60,375 | $446 | 7 mi |
| Claire City | town | 107 | $62,500 | $663 | 18 mi |
| Corona | town | 87 | $65,000 | n/a | 22 mi |
| Ortley | town | 73 | $31,806 | n/a | 24 mi |
| White Rock | town | 12 | $43,750 | n/a | 27 mi |
| White Rock Colony | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 25 mi |
A Roberts County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Roberts County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $5,428 a month: gross income for a household at the Roberts County median
- Less median rent of $658, which is 12% of it
- $1,242: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,784 a month
If your rent is above $658, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Reading the Roberts County data as a borrower
What the Roberts County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Medical bills. 18% of Roberts County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Consolidating cards in Roberts County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Roberts County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 19% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 18.2%, against 9.0% for South Dakota.
| People and households | Roberts County | South Dakota | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.6% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.5% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 18.2% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.7% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.0% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 50.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.8% |
| 60+ min | 2.9% |
Checklist for Roberts County applicants
Quick steps for Roberts County:
- Price the Roberts County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A South Dakota license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Roberts County credit union about member loans.
South Dakota rules that apply in Roberts County
The South Dakota Division of Banking is the place to verify any lender's South Dakota license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: South Dakota guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
The South Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Roberts County?
$65,130 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $75,081 for South Dakota. It ranks 49th of 66 in the state.
How much is rent in Roberts County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $658 a month; 30% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Roberts County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 71% of Roberts County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Sisseton?
Yes, along with the other 13 Census places in Roberts County, such as Agency Village, Rosholt, Wilmot.
Can Roberts County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every South Dakota county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.