1st Advantage MortgageAbout 76% of Walworth County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $65,026. 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
- A quick profile of Walworth County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Walworth County
- Paychecks and income spread in Walworth County
- Jobs and commutes in Walworth County
- Towns and communities in Walworth County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Budget math at the Walworth County median
- Reading the Walworth County data as a borrower
- Walworth County households compared
- South Dakota rules that apply in Walworth County
- A Walworth County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Walworth County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Walworth County's population at 5,271; only 33 of South Dakota's 66 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 707 square miles, that works out to roughly 7.5 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Walworth County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Mobridge is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 2,932 people (56% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Walworth County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Rent, home values and ownership in Walworth County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $926 in Walworth County versus $946 statewide. 41% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 13% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $136,600, about 2.1 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 76%. Median construction year: 1969.
| Measure | Walworth County | South Dakota | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $926/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $136,600 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.5% | 7.2% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Paychecks and income spread in Walworth County
At $65,026, the typical Walworth County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | Walworth County | vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.3% | +4.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.6% | +3.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.1% | -4.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.9% | -3.2 pts |
Some 25% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 28% have six-figure incomes. 14.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.9%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.449 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Walworth County median.
Jobs and commutes in Walworth County
The biggest employer of Walworth County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by other services (12%). The sharpest difference from the state is in other services, at 12% locally and 5% for South Dakota. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 78% drive to work alone and 7% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Walworth County workers | vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.9% | -2.1 pts |
| Other services | 11.5% | +6.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.6% | +1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.7% | -2.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.5% | +1.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.2% | -0.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Towns and communities in Walworth County
6 Census places fall mainly inside Walworth County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 3,912 residents, leaving about 26% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. This guide covers each of the 6 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobridge | city | 2,932 | $65,357 | $953 | 21 mi |
| Selby | city | 702 | $49,205 | $709 | 5 mi |
| Akaska | town | 104 | $40,625 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Glenham | town | 95 | $50,625 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Java | town | 78 | $38,750 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Lowry | town | 1 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (25 to 49 miles). Edmunds County leads the group on income ($81,630), Dewey County trails ($54,104), and Walworth County out-earns 1 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walworth County | - | $65,026 | $926/mo | 76% |
| Campbell County, SD | 25 mi | $68,929 | $760/mo | 76% |
| Potter County, SD | 26 mi | $72,045 | $1,008/mo | 82% |
| Edmunds County, SD | 40 mi | $81,630 | $992/mo | 81% |
| Dewey County, SD | 44 mi | $54,104 | $692/mo | 61% |
| McPherson County, SD | 47 mi | $66,906 | $594/mo | 81% |
| Sully County, SD | 49 mi | $72,578 | $842/mo | 73% |
Budget math at the Walworth County median
How much room does a median Walworth County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $65,026 a year is $5,419 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $926, takes 17% of that
- With a 40% ceiling, about $1,242 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Walworth County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Reading the Walworth County data as a borrower
What the Walworth County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Walworth County households compared
College graduates make up 30% of the adult population. About 11% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Walworth County | South Dakota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.6% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.4% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.6% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.6% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.9% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.5% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Walworth County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 58.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.4% |
| 60+ min | 4.0% |
South Dakota rules that apply in Walworth County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Walworth County borrowers answers to the South Dakota Division of Banking. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: South Dakota guide.
A Walworth County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Walworth County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for South Dakota borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
The South Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Walworth County household make?
About $65,026 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 13% below the South Dakota median.
How does Walworth County rent compare with South Dakota?
$926 locally versus $946 for the state, 2% below.
Does this page cover Mobridge?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Walworth County, such as Selby, Akaska, Glenham.
Does living in Walworth County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Walworth County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in Walworth 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.