Population 27,233 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lawrence County
Household size in Lawrence County
| Period | Lawrence County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.11 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.20 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.20 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.25 | 2.48 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.14 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Lawrence 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. Household size has climbed from 2.11 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Lawrence 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 Lawrence County
| Period | Lawrence County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.4 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.5 | 38.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.8 | 38.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.9 | 38.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.5 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Lawrence County skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.9, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 41.4, mirroring the country.
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 Lawrence County
| Period | Lawrence County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.7% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Lawrence County: 6.9% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 2.6 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Lawrence County
Renters in Lawrence County
| Period | Lawrence County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.3% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.5% | 32.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.3% | 32.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 34.9% | 31.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | +0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Lawrence County is about as common as it is nationally: 34.9% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in South Dakota overall (31.4%). Among homeowners, 47.7% have no mortgage at all, 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 Lawrence County
| Period | Lawrence County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.5% | 11.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.2% | 10.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.4% | 11.6% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.7% | 10.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 13.7% of the housing in Lawrence 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 1.2 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 Lawrence County
| Period | Lawrence County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1975 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1979 | 1977 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +12 | +9 | +6 |
The housing in Lawrence County is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1987, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1975 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the center, the oldest in the south. Of South Dakota's 66 counties, only six have newer homes.
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 Lawrence County
| Period | Lawrence County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $630 | $631 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $704 | $692 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $787 | $798 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $983 | $1,000 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$353 | +$369 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Lawrence County costs $983 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $353 a month from 2006–10, a 56% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 25.4% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the north and lowest in the south.
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 Lawrence County
Bachelor's degrees in Lawrence County
| Period | Lawrence County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.1% | 26.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.7% | 27.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.8% | 29.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.3% | 32.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Lawrence County (33.3%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the south. Lawrence County has a higher share of college graduates than at least four in five South Dakota counties.
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 Lawrence County
| Period | Lawrence County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.1% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.6% | 91.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.8% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.5% | 93.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Lawrence County: 95.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 2.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Lawrence County has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of South Dakota counties.
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 Lawrence County
| Period | Lawrence County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.0% | 4.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.5% | 4.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.6% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.5% | 3.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Lawrence County has been strong: just 1.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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).
Lawrence 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence County | 2.25 | 44.9 | 6.9% | 34.9% | 13.7% | 1987 | $983 | 33.3% | 95.5% | 1.5% |
| Crook County | 2.66 | 45.6 | 4.3% | 21.9% | 20.1% | 1985 | $813 | 22.0% | 92.9% | 0.8% |
| Stanley County | 2.35 | 46.2 | 5.2% | 16.9% | 17.7% | 1989 | $954 | 28.3% | 93.7% | 0.4% |
| Hughes County | 2.35 | 40.2 | 15.6% | 28.0% | 9.4% | 1979 | $1,118 | 38.2% | 96.6% | 0.7% |
| Hyde County | 2.27 | 54.4 | 2.7% | 16.5% | 18.5% | 1960 | $830 | 20.3% | 90.2% | 3.7% |
| Hand County | 2.21 | 43.1 | 6.5% | 34.5% | 18.4% | 1964 | $580 | 28.4% | 94.9% | 0.8% |
| Beadle County | 2.57 | 37.9 | 8.9% | 27.1% | 10.4% | 1962 | $986 | 28.0% | 87.8% | 1.7% |
| Kingsbury County | 2.54 | 42.4 | 6.0% | 17.9% | 18.0% | 1963 | $687 | 22.6% | 92.1% | 1.0% |
| Brookings County | 2.39 | 32.2 | 5.0% | 42.8% | 9.7% | 1985 | $1,019 | 41.5% | 97.3% | 3.4% |
| Lincoln County | 2.23 | 46.1 | 7.0% | 18.6% | 19.1% | 1960 | $695 | 25.7% | 94.4% | 2.6% |
| Lyon County | 2.50 | 37.9 | 9.7% | 27.5% | 9.9% | 1971 | $813 | 30.8% | 92.0% | 3.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Randolph County, AL · Johnson County, KY · Juneau City and Borough, AK · Juneau County, WI · King George County, VA · Kleberg County, TX · Lafayette County, MO · Rabun County, GA · Radford City, VA · Johnson County, AR
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 Lawrence 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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