1st Advantage MortgageIn Union County, South Dakota, the typical household earns $89,636 a year and the typical rent is $1,069. 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
- Union County by the numbers
- What Union County households earn
- What it costs to live in Union County
- How Union County residents earn a living
- The communities that make up Union County
- Union County next to its neighbors
- Budget math at the Union County median
- Who lives in Union County, in numbers
- Reading the Union County data as a borrower
- Four steps for Union County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Union County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Union County by the numbers
With an estimated 17,081 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Union County ranks 13th of 66 in South Dakota for population. Spread over 461 square miles, that works out to roughly 37.1 residents per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Sioux City, IA-NE-SD metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (4 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Dakota Dunes, with about 3,936 residents, or 23% of the county.
What Union County households earn
Union County households have a median income of $89,636 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 2nd of 66 in South Dakota.
| Households earning | Union County | +/- vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.3% | -6.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.3% | -1.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.2% | +2.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 13.1% | +5.0 pts |
Some 14% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 43% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 6.2%, 6 points lower than the state's 11.9%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.470 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $89,636 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Union County
A typical Union County rental runs $1,069 a month including utilities, which is 13% above South Dakota. By the Census definition, 39% of Union County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $301,100, or 3.4 years of median income. The ownership rate is 73%.
| Measure | Union County | South Dakota | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,069/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $301,100 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.2% | 7.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 4% | 11% | n/a |
Because most Union County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
How Union County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Union County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by manufacturing (14%). Manufacturing stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 10% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 7% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 3.7% of the total (5.2% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Union County | Gap to South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.4% | -1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.6% | +3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.8% | -1.8 pts |
| Construction | 9.6% | +2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.9% | +1.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.5% | +0.8 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
The communities that make up Union County
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 65% of Union County residents live in one of the 6. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $57,000 in Alcester to $136,125 in Dakota Dunes. Median rent ranges from $688 in Alcester to $1,225 in Dakota Dunes. None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota Dunes | CDP | 3,936 | $136,125 | $1,225 | 25 mi |
| North Sioux City | city | 3,045 | $71,908 | $1,098 | 22 mi |
| Elk Point | city | 2,537 | $90,473 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Alcester | city | 989 | $57,000 | $688 | 14 mi |
| Jefferson | city | 554 | $82,888 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Richland | CDP | 107 | $130,417 | n/a | 5 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Union County next to its neighbors
Clay County is closest, 18 miles from center to center; the sixth, Lincoln County, is 31 miles off. Lincoln County leads the group on income ($99,166), Clay County trails ($56,850), and Union County out-earns 5 of the six. Some neighbors are in Iowa and Nebraska. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Union County resident follows South Dakota rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County | - | $89,636 | $1,069/mo | 73% |
| Clay County, SD | 18 mi | $56,850 | $770/mo | 51% |
| Plymouth County, IA | 23 mi | $83,251 | $910/mo | 74% |
| Dixon County, NE | 26 mi | $72,454 | $689/mo | 77% |
| Sioux County, IA | 30 mi | $86,098 | $908/mo | 76% |
| Dakota County, NE | 31 mi | $70,329 | $1,069/mo | 64% |
| Lincoln County, SD | 31 mi | $99,166 | $1,260/mo | 71% |
Budget math at the Union County median
Here is the Union County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $89,636 a year is $7,470 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $1,069, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,620: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Union County's.
Who lives in Union County, in numbers
Degree holders: 37% of adults over 25. 5.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Union County | South Dakota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 37.0% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.3% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.1% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.7% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.2% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.6% |
| 60+ min | 3.2% |
Reading the Union County data as a borrower
Based on the Union County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 43% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Consolidating cards in Union County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Four steps for Union County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the South Dakota license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask a Union County credit union about member loans.
Licensing and complaints for Union County
Union 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.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the South Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Union County household make?
About $89,636 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 19% above the South Dakota median.
How does Union County rent compare with South Dakota?
$1,069 locally versus $946 for the state, 13% above.
Does this page cover Dakota Dunes?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Union County, such as North Sioux City, Elk Point, Alcester.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Union County or elsewhere in South Dakota, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Union County?
Start with the South Dakota Division of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.