by Kristen Carney
Updated: December 17, 2024
The richest city in South Dakota is Eden in Marshall County with an average household income of $335,600 as of 2023. While exceptionally affluent, Eden only has a population of 91 as of 2023. The richest city in South Dakota with at least 5,000 people is Brandon in Minnehaha County with an average household income of $134,315 as of 2023 and 10,958 people as of 2023 according to the most current Census data available (citation).
Rank | City | County | Population | Average Income | Median Income |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Eden | Marshall | 91 | $335,600 | -$1 |
2 | Mountain Plains | Lawrence | 412 | $321,188 | $166,641 |
3 | Pine Lakes Addition | Minnehaha | 243 | $275,631 | $192,813 |
4 | Shindler | Lincoln | 651 | $250,765 | $142,875 |
5 | Chelsea | Faulk | 19 | $223,547 | $158,542 |
6 | Prairiewood Village | Brown | 496 | $207,205 | $118,681 |
7 | Lake Madison | Lake | 885 | $198,189 | $116,648 |
8 | Dakota Dunes | Union | 4,129 | $178,199 | $123,438 |
9 | Anderson | Minnehaha | 406 | $162,866 | $143,705 |
10 | Tolstoy | Potter | 37 | $160,096 | $86,875 |
11 | Lyons | Minnehaha | 94 | $152,488 | $134,688 |
12 | Crooks | Minnehaha | 1,371 | $150,807 | $104,479 |
13 | Crook City | Lawrence | 278 | $150,770 | $143,426 |
14 | Mina | Edmunds | 888 | $149,864 | $102,969 |
15 | Angostura | Fall River | 114 | $138,818 | $135,893 |
16 | Colonial Pine Hills | Pennington | 2,347 | $136,864 | $82,262 |
17 | Brant Lake | Lake | 56 | $136,511 | $123,750 |
18 | Brandon | Minnehaha | 10,958 | $134,315 | $104,806 |
19 | South Shore | Codington | 189 | $127,649 | $56,667 |
20 | Renner Corner | Minnehaha | 249 | $123,362 | $93,967 |
We usually suggest using median income data – either instead of or in addition to – average income data as a true indicator of wealth. If you haven’t thought about median versus average since your last standardized test, you aren’t alone. Here’s what they are:
Now let’s say you had the following simplified set of income data.
Household 1: $30,000
Household 2: $50,000
Household 3: $1,000,000
The average income for this set is $360,000. The outlier data point ($1,000,000) skews the average WAY up. Conversely, the average income would be skewed WAY down if someone had an income of $500. The median income for the same data set is $50,000. Outlier data doesn’t skew the median.
So most business owners should use the median income as a true indicator of wealth, because it provides a more accurate representation of a typical income, especially in areas with significant income disparity.
If your target market is high-income households, the average income may be more relevant. This is because the average income can highlight the presence of a higher concentration of wealthy individuals, which is beneficial for luxury goods and services marketing. We’re using average income on this page because using the Census’s highest reported median value of $250,001 could result in multiple ties for the richest geography.
The Census' American Community Survey uses $250,000+ as a jam value for median income estimates to protect privacy, ensure data consistency, and simplify reporting. A "jam value" in survey data refers to a placeholder or default value used when actual data points are unavailable, incomplete, or exceed certain thresholds. We represent this jam value as $250,001 to make it easy for you to sort.
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United States Census Bureau. Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Web. May 2024. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. B01001 SEX BY AGE, 2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 12 December 2024. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. B19013 Median Household Income, 2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 12 December 2024. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. “DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS.” 2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 12 December 2024. http://www.census.gov/.
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