County · South Dakota
Aurora County, South Dakota
Aurora County, South Dakota. Aurora County had 2,801 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.1% since 2020, slower than South Dakota (+5.5%). It holds 25 places (3 cities, villages and boroughs, 20 towns and townships and 2 census-designated) and 1 census tract. GEOID 46003.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
2,801
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,747 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,642 ±181
Median household income
$72,885
±$5,520 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $75,081
Median home value
$151,900
±$21,223 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $257,400
Median gross rent
$747
±$83 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $946
How many people live in Aurora County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 2,747 residents in Aurora County. The Census Bureau estimates 2,801 for July 1, 2025, up 2.1% since 2020, slower than South Dakota (+5.5%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 2,642 over 708 square miles of land.
| Measure | Aurora County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,642±181 | 907,428 | no clear change |
| Households | 1,064±66 | 365,544 | −118 |
| Average household size | 2.40±0.17 | 2.39 | +0.21 |
| Housing units | 1,261±52 | 408,584 | no clear change |
Aurora County's population since 2000
From 3,058 in 2000 to 2,801 in 2025: down 8.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Aurora County?
Aurora County holds 25 places: 3 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 20 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Plankinton with 777 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Plankinton | 781 | $74,833 |
|---|---|---|
| White Lake | 394 | $48,889 |
| Stickney | 321 | $59,750 |
| Plankinton Township | 191 | $71,563 |
| Aurora Township, Aurora CountyGEOID 4600302740 | 106 | $93,636 |
| Center TownshipGEOID 4600310900 | 100 | not published |
| White Lake TownshipGEOID 4600371220 | 85 | $77,813 |
| Dudley TownshipGEOID 4600317180 | 83 | $101,964 |
| Belford TownshipGEOID 4600304300 | 69 | $120,179 |
| Palatine TownshipGEOID 4600348180 | 68 | $93,750 |
| Eureka Township, Aurora CountyGEOID 4600320100 | 67 | not published |
| Hopper TownshipGEOID 4600330020 | 61 | not published |
| Truro TownshipGEOID 4600364220 | 60 | not published |
| Pleasant Lake TownshipGEOID 4600350620 | 57 | $94,375 |
| Gales TownshipGEOID 4600323300 | 45 | $80,500 |
| Firesteel TownshipGEOID 4600321420 | 44 | not published |
| Lake Township, Aurora CountyGEOID 4600334780 | 40 | $107,500 |
| Patten TownshipGEOID 4600348660 | 38 | not published |
| Washington Township, Aurora CountyGEOID 4600368900 | 35 | not published |
| Bristol Township, Aurora CountyGEOID 4600307260 | 34 | not published |
| Cooper TownshipGEOID 4600313820 | 25 | not published |
| Crystal Lake TownshipGEOID 4600314960 | 23 | $86,389 |
| Aurora CenterGEOID 4602860 | 22 | not published |
| Pleasant Valley Township, Aurora CountyGEOID 4600350700 | 20 | not published |
| StorlaGEOID 4661940 | 6 | not published |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Aurora County?
The median resident of Aurora County is 41.7 years old; 25.5% are under 18 and 19.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 86.3%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 7.0%. 4.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Aurora County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7±2.3 | 38.0 | +3.9 |
| Under 18 years | 25.5%±1.8 pts | 24.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.7%±2.1 pts | 18.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.0%±2.1 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 86.3%±2.5 pts | 79.8% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.4 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 1.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.4 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.4%±1.2 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.7%±1.7 pts | 4.0% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 7.1%±2.1 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.3%±1.6 pts | 7.9% | – |
| With a disability | 13.0%±2.0 pts | 12.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.2%±1.5 pts | 9.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.0%±2.5 pts | 93.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.4%±2.9 pts | 31.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.8%±1.7 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.7%±0.6 pts | 3.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Aurora County earn?
Half of Aurora County's 1,064 households earn less than $72,885 a year (±$5,520), against $75,081 in South Dakota. In 2015-2019 it was $78,867 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 10.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Aurora County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $72,885±$5,520 | $75,081 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $91,360±$9,491 | $98,527 | – |
| Per capita income | $40,190±$4,561 | $40,550 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 10.6%±2.9 pts | 11.9% | +5.2 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 18.1%±7.4 pts | 14.3% | +12.9 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.4%±2.3 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 83.6%±3.6 pts | 89.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Aurora County?
Owners occupy 72.7% of Aurora County's occupied homes and renters 27.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $151,900 by its owner (±$21,223). The median renter pays $747 a month including utilities, and 24.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Aurora County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $151,900±$21,223 | $257,400 | +$46,306 |
| Median gross rent | $747±$83 | $946 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 24.9%±11.7 pts | 30.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,504±$181 | $1,680 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 72.7%±4.6 pts | 68.6% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,261±52 | 408,584 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.4%±0.7 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.8%±3.6 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 86.3%±3.3 pts | 66.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 6.9%±2.3 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.1%±0.3 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 35.8%±4.3 pts | 15.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Aurora County building?
Builders took permits for 3 new housing units across Aurora County in 2025 (3 single-family), 1.1 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Aurora County get to work?
76.2% of Aurora County's workers drive alone and 13.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.0 minutes.
| Measure | Aurora County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 66.7%±3.2 pts | 67.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.2%±0.9 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 76.2%±4.0 pts | 77.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.6%±2.5 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±1.8 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 3.5%±1.5 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 13.3%±3.5 pts | 9.7% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.0 min±2.5 | 17.8 min | +3.5 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Aurora County's census tracts?
Aurora County is a single census tract.
| Tract 973646003973600 | 2,642±181 | $72,885 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Aurora County compare with South Dakota's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 51st of 66 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 26th of 66 |
| Residents per square mile | 44th of 66 |
| Median household income | 31st of 66 |
| Median home value | 44th of 66 |
| Median gross rent | 37th of 65 |
| Poverty rate | 36th of 65 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47th of 66 |
| Median age | 31st of 66 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Aurora County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.