Population 1,148 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Harding County
Household size in Harding County
| Period | Harding County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.36 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.37 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.31 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.22 | 2.48 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.14 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Harding County is a place of small households, averaging 2.22 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.36, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next. Harding County has smaller households than at least four in five South Dakota counties.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Harding County
| Period | Harding County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.0 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.5 | 38.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.3 | 38.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.3 | 38.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.3 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Harding County skews older: half of its residents are older than 46.3, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Harding County is older than at least four in five South Dakota counties.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Harding County
| Period | Harding County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.2% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.4% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.4% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 4.0% of households in Harding County, well below the national share of 11.6%. Harding County has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of South Dakota counties.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Harding County
Renters in Harding County
| Period | Harding County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.7% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.4% | 32.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.9% | 32.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.5% | 31.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | +0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 23.5% of households in Harding County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Just over seven in ten owners (72.2%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Harding County
| Period | Harding County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.4% | 11.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.6% | 10.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 24.1% | 11.6% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.6% | 10.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 27.6% of the housing in Harding County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Of South Dakota's 66 counties, only four have a higher vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Harding County
| Period | Harding County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1959 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1969 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1977 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1973 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +14 | +9 | +6 |
Homes in Harding County run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1973 against 1980.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Harding County
| Period | Harding County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $409 | $631 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $569 | $692 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $596 | $798 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $521 | $1,000 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$112 | +$369 | +$606 |
The median renter in Harding County pays $521 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 9.0% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Only two of South Dakota's 66 counties have lower rents.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Harding County
Bachelor's degrees in Harding County
| Period | Harding County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.3% | 26.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.5% | 27.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.0% | 29.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 30.4% | 32.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
About three in ten adults 25 and older in Harding County (30.4%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. South Dakota as a whole looks much the same. Compared with other South Dakota counties, though, Harding County has a higher share of college graduates than most.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Harding County
| Period | Harding County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.3% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.8% | 91.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.7% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.8% | 93.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Harding County is above the national rate: 93.8% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. South Dakota as a whole looks much the same.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Harding County
| Period | Harding County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.7% | 4.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 0.8% | 4.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.4% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.9% | 3.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Harding County has been low: just 0.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Harding County has lower unemployment than at least four in five South Dakota counties. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Harding County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harding County | 2.22 | 46.3 | 4.0% | 23.5% | 27.6% | 1973 | $521 | 30.4% | 93.8% | 0.9% |
| Carter County | 2.14 | 57.0 | 1.9% | 37.8% | 27.7% | 1976 | $773 | 20.7% | 93.7% | 3.6% |
| Perkins County | 2.23 | 45.3 | 9.2% | 21.6% | 25.0% | 1966 | $776 | 25.2% | 94.9% | 4.8% |
| Corson County | 3.48 | 29.4 | 28.7% | 40.9% | 16.2% | 1974 | $521 | 18.3% | 85.3% | 26.2% |
| Walworth County | 2.13 | 41.7 | 6.6% | 23.8% | 17.1% | 1966 | $865 | 27.0% | 91.8% | 3.2% |
| Big Horn County | 3.47 | 33.2 | 20.2% | 33.3% | 14.4% | 1975 | $599 | 17.3% | 89.4% | 14.6% |
| McPherson County | 2.09 | 49.4 | 5.1% | 18.7% | 24.2% | 1964 | $637 | 27.4% | 83.8% | 1.1% |
| Yellowstone County | 2.42 | 39.4 | 10.1% | 30.4% | 7.0% | 1983 | $1,287 | 33.6% | 95.4% | 3.4% |
| Stillwater County | 2.43 | 46.6 | 5.0% | 17.1% | 15.5% | 1986 | $1,036 | 31.9% | 95.4% | 3.0% |
| Marshall County | 2.56 | 43.0 | 6.0% | 19.7% | 31.5% | 1968 | $783 | 25.5% | 92.4% | 0.3% |
| Roberts County | 2.87 | 38.5 | 14.8% | 28.8% | 21.5% | 1971 | $681 | 18.0% | 91.5% | 6.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Woods County, OK · Bacon County, GA · Bailey County, TX · Ballard County, KY · Banner County, NE · Barnes County, ND · Wilkes County, GA · Wilkinson County, MS · Winkler County, TX · Winnebago County, IA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Harding County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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