1st Advantage MortgageIn Sanborn County, South Dakota, the typical household earns $78,750 a year and the typical rent is $725. 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
- Sanborn County, SD: the basics
- The Sanborn County job picture
- Paychecks and income spread in Sanborn County
- Renting and owning in Sanborn County
- Counties near Sanborn County
- Sanborn County towns compared
- What a median Sanborn County budget can carry
- Sanborn County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Sanborn County
- A Sanborn County borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for Sanborn County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Sanborn County, SD: the basics
Roughly 2,384 residents live in Sanborn County, South Dakota, 53rd by population among the state's 66 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 569 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 4 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Sanborn County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 5 Census places inside Sanborn County, Woonsocket leads by population with about 759; 3 of the 5 are incorporated. Because Sanborn County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
The Sanborn County job picture
Education and health care employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 14%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 0.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 6% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Sanborn County | Compared with South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.2% | +0.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 13.6% | +7.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.5% | +2.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.4% | +0.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.2% | +2.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 5.8% | -5.7 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Paychecks and income spread in Sanborn County
At $78,750, the typical Sanborn County household income is 20% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 13th of 66.
| Households earning | Sanborn County | +/- vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.8% | +0.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.4% | -1.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.3% | +2.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.6% | -1.6 pts |
About 22% of households earn under $35,000, while 36% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 8.5%, 3 points lower than the state's 11.9%. A household earning below the $78,750 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Sanborn County
Renters in Sanborn County pay a median of $725 a month, 23% below the South Dakota figure of $946. 46% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. With a median value of $135,600, a typical Sanborn County house costs 1.7 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 79% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1958.
| Housing | Sanborn County | South Dakota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $725/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $135,600 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 19% | 11% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Sanborn 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.
Counties near Sanborn County
Six nearby counties, 24 to 32 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $66,208 in Davison County to $81,071 in Hanson County; 1 of these neighbors top Sanborn County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanborn County | - | $78,750 | $725/mo | 79% |
| Davison County, SD | 24 mi | $66,208 | $847/mo | 61% |
| Miner County, SD | 24 mi | $76,140 | $644/mo | 85% |
| Jerauld County, SD | 27 mi | $73,750 | $632/mo | 84% |
| Hanson County, SD | 28 mi | $81,071 | $782/mo | 89% |
| Beadle County, SD | 29 mi | $67,681 | $879/mo | 73% |
| Aurora County, SD | 32 mi | $72,885 | $747/mo | 73% |
Sanborn County towns compared
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Sanborn County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 1,221 people, so roughly 49% of residents live outside any named place. No Sanborn County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woonsocket | city | 759 | $56,765 | $664 | 9 mi |
| Letcher | town | 171 | $81,042 | $725 | 9 mi |
| Artesian | town | 148 | $61,806 | $783 | 8 mi |
| Forestburg | CDP | 113 | $125,083 | n/a | 1 mi |
| Upland Colony | CDP | 30 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
What a median Sanborn County budget can carry
Sanborn County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $6,562 gross per month ($78,750 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $725 uses 11%
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,638 a month
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $2,097 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $725, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Sanborn County residents: age, schooling, coverage
21% of Sanborn County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 5.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Sanborn County | South Dakota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.3% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.1% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.3% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.0% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 18.6% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.5% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 0.6% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 28.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.0% |
| 60+ min | 1.8% |
Borrowing situations common in Sanborn County
Where the Sanborn County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Manufactured homes. 12% of Sanborn County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Renters under pressure. When 46% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Consolidating cards in Sanborn County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
A Sanborn County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Sanborn County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Who licenses lenders for Sanborn County residents
The South Dakota Division of Banking is the place to verify any lender's South Dakota license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on South Dakota: South Dakota personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the South Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Sanborn County earn?
The median is $78,750; 36% earn $100,000 or more and 22% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Sanborn County rent compare with South Dakota?
$725 locally versus $946 for the state, 23% below.
Should Sanborn County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 79% of Sanborn County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Sanborn County?
By population: Woonsocket, Letcher, Artesian, Forestburg, Upland Colony. The county has 5 Census places in all.
Are Sanborn County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.