Population 2,384 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Sanborn County
Household size in Sanborn County
| Period | Sanborn County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.46 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.11 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.31 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.51 | 2.48 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Sanborn County run a little small, averaging 2.51 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. That is in line with the rest of South Dakota.
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 Sanborn County
| Period | Sanborn County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.0 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.2 | 38.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.3 | 38.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.7 | 38.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | −4.3 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
At 39.7, the median age in Sanborn County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 44.0, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Sanborn County
| Period | Sanborn County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.0% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.6% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.8% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 4.0% of households in Sanborn County, well below the national share of 11.6%. Few South Dakota counties have a lower share of single-parent households: only six of 66.
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 Sanborn County
Renters in Sanborn County
| Period | Sanborn County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.4% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.2% | 32.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.7% | 32.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.4% | 31.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | +0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Sanborn County is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.4% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Nearly two-thirds of owners (64.3%) 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 Sanborn County
| Period | Sanborn County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.6% | 11.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.8% | 10.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.0% | 11.6% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.5% | 10.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Sanborn County: 19.5% 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 Sanborn County
| Period | Sanborn County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1941 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1947 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1957 | 1977 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1958 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +17 | +9 | +6 |
Sanborn County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1958, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Few South Dakota counties have older homes: only three of 66.
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 Sanborn County
| Period | Sanborn County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $478 | $631 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $506 | $692 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $642 | $798 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $778 | $1,000 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$300 | +$369 | +$606 |
Rent in Sanborn County runs $778 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent takes 20.4% 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 Sanborn County
Bachelor's degrees in Sanborn County
| Period | Sanborn County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.2% | 26.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.0% | 27.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.7% | 29.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.8% | 32.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.7 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Sanborn County: 21.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Compared with other South Dakota counties, Sanborn County has a lower 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 Sanborn County
| Period | Sanborn County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.5% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.3% | 91.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.3% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.1% | 93.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Sanborn County have finished high school as nationally: 89.1%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in South Dakota as a whole (93.1%). Sanborn County has a lower 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 Sanborn County
| Period | Sanborn County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.1% | 4.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.7% | 4.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.1% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.6% | 3.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Sanborn County has been strong: just 0.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Sanborn 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).
Sanborn 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanborn County | 2.51 | 39.7 | 4.0% | 21.4% | 19.5% | 1958 | $778 | 21.8% | 89.1% | 0.6% |
| Jerauld County | 2.20 | 50.8 | 6.4% | 15.9% | 18.5% | 1958 | $737 | 21.5% | 93.5% | 1.6% |
| 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% |
| Buffalo County | 3.72 | 22.8 | 34.1% | 47.4% | 12.5% | 1977 | $597 | 10.4% | 88.0% | 11.2% |
| Moody County | 2.50 | 41.1 | 9.8% | 26.5% | 6.8% | 1971 | $864 | 31.6% | 95.3% | 2.6% |
| Lyman County | 3.54 | 36.8 | 17.8% | 30.1% | 22.4% | 1977 | $708 | 22.8% | 87.8% | 4.7% |
| Pipestone County | 2.34 | 40.6 | 8.8% | 19.2% | 8.7% | 1955 | $775 | 22.0% | 92.6% | 3.0% |
| Murray County | 2.22 | 46.1 | 6.5% | 17.8% | 12.4% | 1960 | $832 | 23.5% | 91.7% | 2.6% |
| Cottonwood County | 2.42 | 39.7 | 8.3% | 25.6% | 10.5% | 1961 | $822 | 23.5% | 94.1% | 2.7% |
| Haakon County | 2.42 | 47.0 | 0.8% | 20.8% | 23.2% | 1975 | $495 | 21.1% | 96.4% | 0.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Rains County, TX · Prairie County, MT · Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, AK · Pulaski County, GA · Pulaski County, IL · Pushmataha County, OK · Putnam County, IL · Putnam County, MO · Quay County, NM · Quitman County, GA
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 Sanborn 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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