1st Advantage MortgageTodd County households have a median income of $42,075 and median rent of $532 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Todd County by the numbers
- Income in Todd County compared with South Dakota
- How Todd County residents earn a living
- Rent, home values and ownership in Todd County
- Counties near Todd County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Todd County
- Budget math at the Todd County median
- What the numbers mean for Todd County borrowers
- Who lives in Todd County, in numbers
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in South Dakota
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Todd County by the numbers
With an estimated 9,244 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Todd County ranks 20th of 66 in South Dakota for population. Spread over 1,389 square miles, that works out to roughly 6.7 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Todd County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 11 places in the county (2 incorporated, 9 census-designated); the largest is Rosebud, with about 1,659 residents, or 18% of the county. Because Todd County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Income in Todd County compared with South Dakota
Half of Todd County households take in less than $42,075 a year and half take in more, 44% below the South Dakota median of $75,081. That places it 64th among South Dakota's 66 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Todd County | +/- vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 43.7% | +22.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.4% | -2.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 12.6% | -14.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.3% | -5.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 15% of Todd County households make $100,000 or more, and 44% make less than $35,000. Census counts 48.4% of Todd County residents in poverty, against 11.9% across South Dakota. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.508 here. For a borrower in Todd 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.
How Todd County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 40% of employed Todd County residents work in education and health care and 15% in retail trade. Education and health care stands out: 40% of workers here, versus 25% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Todd County averages 18.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 2.9%). 8% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 4% work from home. Households without a car make up 12.8% of the total (5.2% statewide).
| Sector | Todd County | Compared with South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 39.7% | +14.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.6% | +3.0 pts |
| Public administration | 10.8% | +5.9 pts |
| Construction | 8.1% | +0.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.4% | 0.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 4.7% | +0.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Rent, home values and ownership in Todd County
A typical Todd County rental runs $532 a month including utilities, which is 44% below South Dakota. By the Census definition, 28% of Todd County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $53,900, or 1.3 years of median income. The ownership rate is 46%.
| Home costs | Todd County | South Dakota | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $532/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $53,900 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 46% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 28% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 16% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 14.8% | 7.2% | n/a |
For the many renters in Todd County, deposits, moving costs and card balances are typical reasons to borrow. Keep the amount small and the term short.
Counties near Todd County
Mellette County is closest, 26 miles from center to center; the sixth, Keya Paha County, is 55 miles off. Income ranges from $53,750 in Bennett County to $66,270 in Cherry County; all six of these neighbors top Todd County's median. Some neighbors are in Nebraska. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Todd County resident follows South Dakota rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Todd County | - | $42,075 | $532/mo | 46% |
| Mellette County, SD | 26 mi | $54,076 | $708/mo | 60% |
| Tripp County, SD | 43 mi | $58,987 | $820/mo | 68% |
| Cherry County, NE | 47 mi | $66,270 | $916/mo | 61% |
| Bennett County, SD | 49 mi | $53,750 | $617/mo | 61% |
| Jones County, SD | 51 mi | $65,119 | $543/mo | 76% |
| Keya Paha County, NE | 55 mi | $64,000 | $875/mo | 81% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Todd County
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 71% of Todd County residents live in one of the 11. Incomes vary by place: $55,135 at the median in Rosebud, $20,786 in Antelope. Median rent ranges from $432 in Mission to $709 in Rosebud. No Todd County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 11.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosebud | CDP | 1,659 | $55,135 | $709 | 6 mi |
| Mission | city | 1,539 | n/a | $432 | 7 mi |
| Antelope | CDP | 706 | $20,786 | n/a | 8 mi |
| St. Francis | town | 593 | $42,083 | $567 | 11 mi |
| Parmelee | CDP | 584 | n/a | $434 | 19 mi |
| Spring Creek | CDP | 330 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
| Two Strike | CDP | 257 | $24,315 | $475 | 10 mi |
| Sicangu Village | CDP | 245 | n/a | $304 | 15 mi |
| White Horse | CDP | 238 | $39,609 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Soldier Creek | CDP | 201 | $2,499 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Okreek | CDP | 195 | n/a | n/a | 19 mi |
Budget math at the Todd County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Todd County's medians:
- $42,075 a year is $3,506 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $532, or 15 cents of every gross dollar
- At 40%, room after rent is $870 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Todd County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
What the numbers mean for Todd County borrowers
Based on the Todd County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Uninsured care. 23% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Manufactured homes. 15% of Todd County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Free help first. 48% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
Who lives in Todd County, in numbers
Degree holders: 17% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 22.8%, against 9.0% for South Dakota.
| Residents | Todd County | South Dakota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 25.5 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.6% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.5% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 22.8% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 12.8% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.6% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 48.4% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 18.7% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Todd County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 56.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 7.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.1% |
| 60+ min | 3.7% |
Before you sign
Quick steps for Todd County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the South Dakota license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Checking a lender's license in South Dakota
Todd County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the South Dakota Division of Banking. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the South Dakota state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
The South Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Todd County?
$42,075 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $75,081 for South Dakota. It ranks 64th of 66 in the state.
How does Todd County rent compare with South Dakota?
$532 locally versus $946 for the state, 44% below.
I live in a small Todd County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Rosebud, Mission, Antelope, St. Francis, Parmelee and 6 more.
Can Todd 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.
Is there a Todd County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In South Dakota it is the South Dakota Division of Banking.