Population 10,972 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Lake County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Lake County
Household size in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.28 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.34 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.57 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.25 | 2.48 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Lake County is a place of small households, averaging 2.25 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Households are largest in the northwest and smallest in the south.
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 Lake County
| Period | Lake County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.1 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.5 | 38.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.6 | 38.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.0 | 38.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +8.0 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Lake County skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.0, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 37.1 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Lake County
| Period | Lake County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.9% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.1% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Lake County: 7.5% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is up 2.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 Lake County
Renters in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.0% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.1% | 32.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.4% | 32.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.2% | 31.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | +0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Lake County own their homes; 26.2% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among owners, 46.4% have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the southeast. The renter share has fallen 2.9 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Lake County
| Period | Lake County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.6% | 11.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.2% | 10.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.5% | 11.6% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.3% | 10.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Lake County: 16.3% of homes are empty, 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 1.7 points, even as the national rate fell.
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 Lake County
| Period | Lake County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1960 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1963 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1966 | 1977 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1970 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +9 | +6 |
The housing in Lake County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1970, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1960 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the center.
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 Lake County
| Period | Lake County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $529 | $631 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $550 | $692 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $660 | $798 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $945 | $1,000 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$416 | +$369 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Lake County costs $945 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $416 a month since 2006–10, up 79%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 26.2% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Lake County
Bachelor's degrees in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.1% | 26.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.5% | 27.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.7% | 29.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 35.3% | 32.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.2 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a third of adults 25 and older in Lake County (35.3%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 13.2 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the northwest.
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 Lake County
| Period | Lake County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.3% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.9% | 91.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.8% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.5% | 93.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Lake County is above the national rate: 93.5% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of South Dakota. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.1 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Lake County
| Period | Lake County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.5% | 4.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.4% | 4.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.4% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 3.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Lake County has been strong: just 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. The picture is much the same across South Dakota. 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).
Lake 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake County | 2.25 | 45.0 | 7.5% | 26.2% | 16.3% | 1970 | $945 | 35.3% | 93.5% | 3.1% |
| Moody County | 2.50 | 41.1 | 9.8% | 26.5% | 6.8% | 1971 | $864 | 31.6% | 95.3% | 2.6% |
| Miner County | 2.42 | 48.1 | 6.9% | 15.2% | 16.9% | 1954 | $638 | 16.4% | 94.9% | 0.2% |
| Pipestone County | 2.34 | 40.6 | 8.8% | 19.2% | 8.7% | 1955 | $775 | 22.0% | 92.6% | 3.0% |
| Sanborn County | 2.51 | 39.7 | 4.0% | 21.4% | 19.5% | 1958 | $778 | 21.8% | 89.1% | 0.6% |
| Murray County | 2.22 | 46.1 | 6.5% | 17.8% | 12.4% | 1960 | $832 | 23.5% | 91.7% | 2.6% |
| Jerauld County | 2.20 | 50.8 | 6.4% | 15.9% | 18.5% | 1958 | $737 | 21.5% | 93.5% | 1.6% |
| Cottonwood County | 2.42 | 39.7 | 8.3% | 25.6% | 10.5% | 1961 | $822 | 23.5% | 94.1% | 2.7% |
| Buffalo County | 3.72 | 22.8 | 34.1% | 47.4% | 12.5% | 1977 | $597 | 10.4% | 88.0% | 11.2% |
| Watonwan County | 2.66 | 40.2 | 11.5% | 22.2% | 14.3% | 1961 | $831 | 17.3% | 86.2% | 5.6% |
| Lyman County | 3.54 | 36.8 | 17.8% | 30.1% | 22.4% | 1977 | $708 | 22.8% | 87.8% | 4.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Liberty County, FL · Phillips County, MT · Phillips County, KS · Phillips County, CO · Phillips County, AR · Madison County, FL · Lincoln County, CO · Lincoln County, AR · Liberty County, MT · Piatt County, IL
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 Lake 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.