1st Advantage MortgageTripp County households have a median income of $58,987 and median rent of $820 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
- Tripp County, SD: the basics
- Work, industries and travel time in Tripp County
- Household income in Tripp County
- Housing costs in Tripp County
- Places inside Tripp County
- Counties near Tripp County
- What a median Tripp County budget can carry
- Local borrowing considerations for Tripp County
- People and households in Tripp County
- South Dakota rules that apply in Tripp County
- A Tripp County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Tripp County, SD: the basics
Roughly 5,611 residents live in Tripp County, South Dakota, 31st by population among the state's 66 counties and county equivalents. It covers 1,612 square miles of land, or about 3 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Tripp County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (3 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Winner, with about 2,905 residents, or 52% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Tripp County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Work, industries and travel time in Tripp County
The biggest employer of Tripp County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (24%). Compared with South Dakota, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (24% against 6%). The survey's unemployment rate for Tripp County averages 1.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 2.9%). About 74% drive to work alone and 4% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Tripp County workers | vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.2% | +0.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 23.5% | +17.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.3% | +3.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.6% | -1.8 pts |
| Other services | 6.1% | +1.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.1% | -2.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Household income in Tripp County
Tripp County households have a median income of $58,987 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 55th of 66 in South Dakota.
| Household income | Tripp County | vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.0% | +8.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.6% | +1.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.9% | -6.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -2.7 pts |
About 29% of households earn under $35,000, while 26% clear $100,000. 18.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.9%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.447 here. A household earning below the $58,987 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Tripp County
Renters in Tripp County pay a median of $820 a month, 13% below the South Dakota figure of $946. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 57% of renter households here. With a median value of $132,900, a typical Tripp County house costs 2.3 times what the median household earns in a year. 68% of Tripp County households own their home and 32% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1969.
| Tripp County | South Dakota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $820/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $132,900 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.5% | 7.2% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Places inside Tripp County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Tripp County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 3,359 people, so roughly 40% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 5 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | city | 2,905 | $47,381 | $770 | 2 mi |
| Colome | city | 338 | $51,000 | $637 | 10 mi |
| New Witten | town | 76 | $38,603 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Ideal | CDP | 40 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Hamill | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 19 mi |
Counties near Tripp County
Keya Paha County is closest, 34 miles from center to center; the sixth, Brule County, is 47 miles off. Brule County leads the group on income ($73,720), Todd County trails ($42,075), and Tripp County out-earns 2 of the six. The list crosses into Nebraska, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tripp County | - | $58,987 | $820/mo | 68% |
| Keya Paha County, NE | 34 mi | $64,000 | $875/mo | 81% |
| Gregory County, SD | 36 mi | $62,917 | $614/mo | 77% |
| Lyman County, SD | 38 mi | $67,143 | $651/mo | 70% |
| Todd County, SD | 43 mi | $42,075 | $532/mo | 46% |
| Mellette County, SD | 47 mi | $54,076 | $708/mo | 60% |
| Brule County, SD | 47 mi | $73,720 | $835/mo | 76% |
What a median Tripp County budget can carry
How much room does a median Tripp County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,916 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $820, takes 17% of that
- At 35%, room after rent is $900 a month
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,392 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Tripp County's.
Local borrowing considerations for Tripp County
Based on the Tripp County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Medical bills. 14% of Tripp County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Fixed incomes. Tripp County's median age is 45.0. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 18% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Renters under pressure. When 57% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
People and households in Tripp County
College graduates make up 18% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 14.1%, against 9.0% for South Dakota.
| Indicator | Tripp County | All of South Dakota | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.7% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.9% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.1% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.1% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.4% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.8% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Tripp County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 65.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.4% |
| 60+ min | 3.7% |
South Dakota rules that apply in Tripp County
Tripp County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the South Dakota Division of Banking. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: South Dakota guide.
A Tripp County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Tripp County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Nearby and statewide guides
The South Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Tripp County household make?
About $58,987 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 21% below the South Dakota median.
How does Tripp County rent compare with South Dakota?
$820 locally versus $946 for the state, 13% below.
What are the biggest places in Tripp County?
By population: Winner, Colome, New Witten, Ideal, Hamill. The county has 5 Census places in all.
Will a Tripp 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 Tripp 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.