Population 1,943 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Mellette County
Household size in Mellette County
| Period | Mellette County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.04 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.97 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.03 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.94 | 2.48 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.09 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Mellette County is a place of big households: 2.94 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Household size has dropped from 3.04 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Mellette County
| Period | Mellette County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.9 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.1 | 38.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.8 | 38.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.1 | 38.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.2 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Mellette County is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 38.1, against 40.1 nationally. The picture is much the same across South Dakota.
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 Mellette County
| Period | Mellette County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.2% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.6% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 15.2% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.4% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −13.7 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Mellette County: 15.4% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Mellette County has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five 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 Mellette County
Renters in Mellette County
| Period | Mellette County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.4% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 36.0% | 32.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.6% | 32.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 39.6% | 31.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | +0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
About four in ten households in Mellette County rent their homes (39.6%), a bit above the national share of 34.8%. Just over eight in ten owners (82.7%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Mellette County has a higher share of renters than at least four in five South Dakota counties.
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 Mellette County
| Period | Mellette County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.5% | 11.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.5% | 10.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.2% | 11.6% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.4% | 10.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −5.1 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Mellette County: 17.4% 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.
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 Mellette County
| Period | Mellette County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1968 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1971 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1977 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1969 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +9 | +6 |
Mellette County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1969, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
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 Mellette County
| Period | Mellette County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $460 | $631 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $403 | $692 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $487 | $798 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $699 | $1,000 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$239 | +$369 | +$606 |
Rent in Mellette County runs $699 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent takes 21.5% 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 Mellette County
Bachelor's degrees in Mellette County
| Period | Mellette County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.1% | 26.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.5% | 27.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.2% | 29.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.2% | 32.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Mellette County: 19.2% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Mellette County has a lower share of college graduates than the great majority of 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 Mellette County
| Period | Mellette County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.6% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.5% | 91.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 82.0% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 83.6% | 93.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in six adults in Mellette County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 83.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Of South Dakota's 66 counties, only two have a lower share of high school graduates.
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 Mellette County
| Period | Mellette County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.6% | 4.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.9% | 4.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.5% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.0% | 3.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Mellette County: 12.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Of South Dakota's 66 counties, only five have higher unemployment. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Mellette 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mellette County | 2.94 | 38.1 | 15.4% | 39.6% | 17.4% | 1969 | $699 | 19.2% | 83.6% | 12.0% |
| Jackson County | 3.48 | 34.8 | 27.1% | 32.7% | 21.1% | 1982 | $480 | 14.0% | 90.3% | 8.1% |
| Aurora County | 2.41 | 41.2 | 8.3% | 27.3% | 15.4% | 1962 | $772 | 21.7% | 92.0% | 1.2% |
| Hanson County | 3.02 | 37.8 | 4.2% | 10.6% | 12.1% | 1959 | $848 | 22.7% | 93.3% | 1.8% |
| McCook County | 2.51 | 39.4 | 6.4% | 20.5% | 11.5% | 1968 | $1,021 | 30.3% | 94.5% | 1.9% |
| Lincoln County | 2.56 | 35.9 | 10.8% | 28.8% | 3.6% | 2002 | $1,270 | 46.6% | 96.8% | 1.5% |
| Minnehaha County | 2.40 | 37.0 | 11.2% | 36.9% | 6.0% | 1986 | $1,068 | 35.5% | 92.7% | 2.3% |
| Rock County | 2.35 | 41.8 | 6.9% | 23.4% | 5.8% | 1959 | $839 | 26.5% | 93.2% | 2.6% |
| Nobles County | 2.80 | 36.8 | 15.1% | 25.8% | 9.1% | 1966 | $910 | 16.7% | 79.4% | 3.2% |
| Jackson County | 2.27 | 45.5 | 7.8% | 19.9% | 10.6% | 1959 | $842 | 26.4% | 95.0% | 2.6% |
| Martin County | 2.24 | 43.7 | 10.0% | 31.1% | 9.1% | 1959 | $864 | 23.6% | 95.1% | 4.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Pulaski County, IL · Adair County, IA · Knox County, NE · Knox County, TX · Kusilvak Census Area, AK · La Salle County, TX · Lake and Peninsula Borough, AK · Prairie County, AR · Presidio County, TX · Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, AK
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 Mellette 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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