1st Advantage MortgageAbout 73% of Yankton County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $72,821. 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
- Getting oriented in Yankton County
- Household income in Yankton County
- Housing costs in Yankton County
- Jobs and commutes in Yankton County
- Yankton County towns compared
- The counties around Yankton County
- Debt-to-income at Yankton County's medians
- What the numbers mean for Yankton County borrowers
- Who lives in Yankton County, in numbers
- A Yankton County borrower's checklist
- Lender oversight for Yankton County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Yankton County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Yankton County's population at 23,414; only 8 of South Dakota's 66 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 521 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 45 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Yankton County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 8 Census places inside Yankton County, Yankton leads by population with about 15,540; 7 of the 8 are incorporated.
Household income in Yankton County
Yankton County households have a median income of $72,821 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 32nd of 66 in South Dakota.
| Households earning | Yankton County | +/- vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.6% | -0.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.2% | +1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.0% | +0.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.2% | -2.0 pts |
About 21% of households earn under $35,000, while 34% clear $100,000. 11.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.9%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.444 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 Yankton County median.
Housing costs in Yankton County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $781 in Yankton County versus $946 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 34% of renter households here. With a median value of $225,900, a typical Yankton County house costs 3.1 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 73%. Half the housing stock was built before 1977.
| Housing | Yankton County | South Dakota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $781/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $225,900 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 34% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.6% | 7.2% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Yankton 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.
Jobs and commutes in Yankton County
The biggest employer of Yankton County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 27% of workers, followed by manufacturing (17%). Compared with South Dakota, the county leans toward manufacturing (17% against 10%). Averaged over the five survey years, 1.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 78% drive to work alone and 4% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Yankton County workers | vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.6% | +1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.4% | +7.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.6% | +2.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.0% | -1.5 pts |
| Construction | 6.5% | -1.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 5.9% | -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.
Yankton County towns compared
8 Census places fall mainly inside Yankton County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 17,114 residents, leaving about 27% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. This guide covers each of the 8 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yankton | city | 15,540 | $67,804 | $790 | 8 mi |
| Gayville | town | 519 | $79,375 | $602 | 14 mi |
| Irene | city | 456 | $66,563 | $756 | 13 mi |
| Mission Hill | town | 200 | $71,250 | $775 | 8 mi |
| Volin | town | 139 | $112,557 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Jamesville Colony | CDP | 101 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Lesterville | town | 91 | $56,250 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Utica | town | 68 | $51,000 | n/a | 6 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
The counties around Yankton County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Yankton County's, from 22 to 36 miles away. Income ranges from $56,850 in Clay County to $75,771 in Turner County; 3 of these neighbors top Yankton County's median. Some neighbors are in Nebraska. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Yankton County resident follows South Dakota rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yankton County | - | $72,821 | $781/mo | 73% |
| Clay County, SD | 22 mi | $56,850 | $770/mo | 51% |
| Turner County, SD | 24 mi | $75,771 | $742/mo | 79% |
| Bon Homme County, SD | 25 mi | $64,435 | $646/mo | 80% |
| Cedar County, NE | 29 mi | $73,578 | $716/mo | 80% |
| Hutchinson County, SD | 29 mi | $73,977 | $727/mo | 77% |
| Knox County, NE | 36 mi | $64,636 | $647/mo | 78% |
Debt-to-income at Yankton County's medians
Here is the Yankton County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,068 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $781 uses 13%
- Under a 43% cap, $2,609 total minus rent leaves $1,828
If your rent is above $781, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
What the numbers mean for Yankton County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Yankton County borrowers.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Who lives in Yankton County, in numbers
31% of Yankton County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 5.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Yankton County | South Dakota | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 31.4% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.4% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.6% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.9% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.4% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Yankton County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 63.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 7.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.1% |
| 60+ min | 3.2% |
A Yankton County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Yankton County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Lender oversight for Yankton County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Yankton County, check the South Dakota Division of Banking. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The South Dakota guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
The South Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Yankton County?
$72,821 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $75,081 for South Dakota. It ranks 32nd of 66 in the state.
How does Yankton County rent compare with South Dakota?
$781 locally versus $946 for the state, 17% below.
I own my home in Yankton County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 73% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Yankton County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 8 Census places: Yankton, Gayville, Irene, Mission Hill, Volin.
Will a Yankton 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.