Mellette County, South Dakota

5 cities & places have their primary county here.

Population: 2,043
Median household income: $51,364
Median home value: $63,000

Mellette County is a county in South Dakota with a population of 2,043. 5 cities and places have their primary county here. Its median household income of $51,364 runs below the South Dakota figure of $72,421.

Between 2019 and 2023, Mellette County's population held roughly steady from 2,052 to 2,043, while its median household income rose 67.6% from $30,650 to $51,364.

46.2% of residents live below the poverty line. Households average 3.24 people.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 2,043
Median age: 31.0 yrs
Median household income: $51,364
Median home value: $63,000
Median gross rent: $737
Housing units: 779
Homeownership rate: 59.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 16.3%
Unemployment rate: 14.7%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

2,0522,043

Median household income

$30,650$51,364

Median home value

$32,100$63,000

Median gross rent

$502$737

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	2,052	$30,650	$32,100	$502
2020	2,065	$33,882	—	$536
2021	1,916	$35,726	$51,700	$638
2022	1,989	$41,397	$60,700	$670
2023	2,043	$51,364	$63,000	$737

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 57.6%

5 to 1724.0%

18 to 247.8%

25 to 3411.4%

35 to 4410.9%

45 to 5411.6%

55 to 6411.6%

65 to 7410.2%

75 and over4.9%

	Count	Share
Under 5	156	7.6%
5 to 17	490	24.0%
18 to 24	160	7.8%
25 to 34	233	11.4%
35 to 44	222	10.9%
45 to 54	236	11.6%
55 to 64	236	11.6%
65 to 74	209	10.2%
75 and over	101	4.9%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	645	31.6%
Black or African American	5	0.2%
American Indian & Alaska Native	1,261	61.7%
Asian	0	0.0%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	6	0.3%
Some other race	6	0.3%
Two or more races	113	5.5%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	7	0.3%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma15.4%

High school graduate41.1%

Some college or associate's27.2%

Bachelor's degree13.2%

Graduate or professional degree3.2%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	191	15.4%
High school graduate	508	41.1%
Some college or associate's	336	27.2%
Bachelor's degree	163	13.2%
Graduate or professional degree	39	3.2%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 16 min

Drove alone66.5%

Carpooled20.4%

Public transit0.0%

Walked5.0%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home5.9%

Other means2.1%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	436	66.5%
Carpooled	134	20.4%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	33	5.0%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	39	5.9%
Other means	14	2.1%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	317	51.4%
15 to 29 min	165	26.7%
30 to 44 min	93	15.1%
45 to 59 min	38	6.2%
60+ min	4	0.6%

Households

Average household size: 3.24
Poverty rate: 46.2% (898 of 1,944)

	Count	Share
Family households	401	65.1%
Nonfamily households	215	34.9%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1972

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	616	79.1%
Vacant	163	20.9%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	369	59.9%
Renter-occupied	247	40.1%

1-unit, detached68.9%

1-unit, attached0.0%

2 to 4 units3.7%

5 to 19 units0.0%

20 or more units0.5%

Mobile home & other26.8%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	537	68.9%
1-unit, attached	0	0.0%
2 to 4 units	29	3.7%
5 to 19 units	0	0.0%
20 or more units	4	0.5%
Mobile home & other	209	26.8%

Geography

County GEOID: 46095
State: South Dakota
Land area: 1,307 sq mi
Water area: 3.56 sq mi
Center point: 43.5813, -100.7552