Population 113,512 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Pennington County
Household size in Pennington County
| Period | Pennington County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.41 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.47 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.44 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.41 | 2.48 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Pennington County run small, averaging 2.41 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. South Dakota as a whole looks much the same. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northeast.
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 Pennington County
| Period | Pennington County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.5 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.0 | 38.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.8 | 38.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.7 | 38.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.2 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
At 40.7, the median age in Pennington County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is older than in South Dakota overall, where the median age is 38.9. The median age has climbed from 37.5 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Pennington County
| Period | Pennington County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.0% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.3% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.2% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Pennington County (10.2%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of South Dakota. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 2.8 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 Pennington County
Renters in Pennington County
| Period | Pennington County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.4% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.4% | 32.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.4% | 32.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 30.7% | 31.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | +0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Pennington County own their homes; 30.7% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. About four in ten owners (40.7%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the northwest and least common in the southwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 2.7 points, 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 Pennington County
| Period | Pennington County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 11.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.5% | 10.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.2% | 11.6% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.8% | 10.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Pennington County is close to the national rate: 10.8% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 1.0 points, even as the national rate fell. Pennington County has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five South Dakota counties.
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 Pennington County
| Period | Pennington County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1979 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1979 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1977 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +9 | +6 |
The housing in Pennington County is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1985, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1979 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the west has the oldest housing.
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 Pennington County
| Period | Pennington County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $800 | $631 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $868 | $692 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $917 | $798 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,202 | $1,000 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$402 | +$369 | +$606 |
The median renter in Pennington County pays $1,202 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in South Dakota overall ($1,000). Rents are up $402 a month from 2006–10, a 50% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 30.6% of the typical renter's income, just over 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 Pennington County
Bachelor's degrees in Pennington County
| Period | Pennington County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.7% | 26.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 27.5% | 27.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.0% | 29.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.6% | 32.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.8 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a third of adults 25 and older in Pennington County (34.6%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 6.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the north.
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 Pennington County
| Period | Pennington County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.5% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.8% | 91.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.4% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.4% | 93.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Pennington County: 94.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. South Dakota as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma has risen 2.9 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Pennington County
| Period | Pennington County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 4.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 4.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.2% | 3.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Pennington County has been low: just 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.0 points, as it has nationally. 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).
Pennington 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennington County | 2.41 | 40.7 | 10.2% | 30.7% | 10.8% | 1985 | $1,202 | 34.6% | 94.4% | 3.2% |
| Weston County | 2.31 | 45.9 | 9.5% | 13.2% | 16.2% | 1976 | $753 | 20.8% | 91.3% | 1.4% |
| Haakon County | 2.42 | 47.0 | 0.8% | 20.8% | 23.2% | 1975 | $495 | 21.1% | 96.4% | 0.0% |
| Lyman County | 3.54 | 36.8 | 17.8% | 30.1% | 22.4% | 1977 | $708 | 22.8% | 87.8% | 4.7% |
| Buffalo County | 3.72 | 22.8 | 34.1% | 47.4% | 12.5% | 1977 | $597 | 10.4% | 88.0% | 11.2% |
| Jerauld County | 2.20 | 50.8 | 6.4% | 15.9% | 18.5% | 1958 | $737 | 21.5% | 93.5% | 1.6% |
| Washakie County | 2.25 | 45.1 | 7.2% | 25.8% | 14.1% | 1970 | $723 | 22.9% | 90.5% | 2.9% |
| Sanborn County | 2.51 | 39.7 | 4.0% | 21.4% | 19.5% | 1958 | $778 | 21.8% | 89.1% | 0.6% |
| Miner County | 2.42 | 48.1 | 6.9% | 15.2% | 16.9% | 1954 | $638 | 16.4% | 94.9% | 0.2% |
| 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% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Albemarle County, VA · Douglas County, KS · Cowlitz County, WA · Columbiana County, OH · Cecil County, MD · Cass County, MO · Carroll County, GA · Calhoun County, AL · Bradley County, TN · Bay County, MI
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 Pennington 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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