County · South Dakota

Lake County, South Dakota

Lake County, South Dakota. Lake County had 10,993 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.6% since 2020, while South Dakota grew 5.5%. It holds 27 places (5 cities, villages and boroughs, 16 towns and townships and 6 census-designated) and 4 census tracts. GEOID 46079.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

10,993

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 11,059 · ACS 2020-2024: 10,972

Median household income

$76,808

±$7,301 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $75,081

Median home value

$247,600

±$21,400 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $257,400

Median gross rent

$947

±$88 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $946

How many people live in Lake County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 11,059 residents in Lake County. The Census Bureau estimates 10,993 for July 1, 2025, down 0.6% since 2020, while South Dakota grew 5.5%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 10,972 over 563 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −149 (10,866)
2021→2022 +81 (10,947)
2022→2023 +112 (11,059)
2023→2024 −15 (11,044)
2024→2025 −51 (10,993)

Lake County in South Dakota. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Lake County	South Dakota	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	10,972	907,428	−1,745
Households	4,716±171	365,544	no clear change
Average household size	2.21±0.08	2.39	−0.34
Housing units	5,797±29	408,584	no clear change

Lake County's population since 2000

From 11,276 in 2000 to 10,993 in 2025: down 2.5%. 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.

2000 Census 11,276
2005 (estimate) 10,624
2010 Census 11,200
2015 (estimate) 12,350
2020 Census 11,059
2025 (estimate) 10,993

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 Lake County?

Lake County holds 27 places: 5 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 16 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 6 census-designated places. The largest is Madison with 6,065 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Lake County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Madison	city	6,191	6,094±19	$65,593	$193,100	9.5%	100%
Lake Madison	CDP	829	936±178	$129,191	$477,800	1.0%	100%
Lake View TownshipGEOID 4607935660	township	797	676±149	$150,556	$481,300	1.3%	100%
Chester Township, Lake County	township	689	641±168	$69,375	$235,300	8.3%	100%
Herman TownshipGEOID 4607928260	township	669	844±148	$78,438	$291,200	6.2%	100%
Wentworth Township	township	525	589±160	$107,212	$461,000	2.7%	100%
Franklin Township, Lake CountyGEOID 4607922780	township	315	216±97	$71,250	$435,000	1.9%	100%
ChesterGEOID 4611660	CDP	257	152±47	$68,333	$147,500	0.0%	100%
Farmington Township, Lake CountyGEOID 4607921220	township	228	130±76	$120,500	$267,600	0.0%	100%
Summit Township, Lake CountyGEOID 4607962180	township	206	159±56	$83,125	$254,200	3.8%	100%
Rutland TownshipGEOID 4607957020	township	191	276±110	$96,563	$371,900	12.0%	100%
WentworthGEOID 4670020	village	181	138±48	$62,188	$83,300	13.8%	100%
Le Roy TownshipGEOID 4607936500	township	168	152±78	$118,000	$372,700	1.3%	100%
Ramona	town	159	538±144	$78,750	$85,800	26.2%	100%
Brant Lake SouthGEOID 4607044	CDP	140	211±114	$107,983	not published	6.2%	100%
Rustic Acres ColonyGEOID 4656964	CDP	132	30±7	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
Winfred TownshipGEOID 4607972140	township	124	158±88	$118,576	$233,900	0.0%	100%
Wayne Township, Lake CountyGEOID 4607969580	township	99	30±20	$48,750	$187,500	0.0%	100%
Nunda TownshipGEOID 4607946100	township	98	62±42	not published	$230,000	4.8%	100%
Concord TownshipGEOID 4607913660	township	90	56±37	not published	$129,200	0.0%	100%
Clarno TownshipGEOID 4607912380	township	84	5±7	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
Orland TownshipGEOID 4607947580	township	83	24±23	$63,750	$275,000	12.5%	100%
Badus TownshipGEOID 4607903180	township	60	81±46	$138,750	not published	0.0%	100%
Brant LakeGEOID 4607040	city	56	63±56	$104,318	$455,000	0.0%	100%
NundaGEOID 4646060	town	46	40±23	not published	$118,800	27.5%	100%
WinfredGEOID 4672100	CDP	38	34±30	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
Graceville ColonyGEOID 4625020	CDP	21	0±10	not published	not published	–	100%

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 Lake County?

The median resident of Lake County is 43.8 years old; 19.6% are under 18 and 24.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 5.3%. 3.7% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Lake County	South Dakota	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	43.8±0.6	38.0	no clear change
Under 18 years	19.6%±1.0 pts	24.2%	–
65 years and over	24.3%±0.7 pts	18.0%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	5.3%	4.8%	–
White alone, not Hispanic	88.8%±0.6 pts	79.8%	−4.4 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.7%±0.6 pts	2.1%	–
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.7%±0.4 pts	1.4%	–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	2.5%±0.9 pts	7.1%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.3 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	1.5%±0.7 pts	4.4%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.3 pts	0.3%	–
Born outside the United States	3.7%±1.4 pts	4.0%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	5.0%±1.5 pts	7.1%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	7.8%±1.5 pts	7.9%	–
With a disability	15.1%±1.9 pts	12.5%	–
No health insurance coverage	4.0%±1.0 pts	9.0%	−3.0 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	93.4%±2.3 pts	93.2%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	34.6%±3.8 pts	31.9%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	9.8%±2.5 pts	10.0%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	4.5%±2.3 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 Lake County earn?

Half of Lake County's 4,716 households earn less than $76,808 a year (±$7,301), against $75,081 in South Dakota. In 2015-2019 it was $76,113 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.4% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Lake County	South Dakota	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$76,808±$7,301	$75,081	no clear change
Mean household income	$104,754±$11,358	$98,527	–
Per capita income	$45,963±$5,223	$40,550	no clear change
People below the poverty line	8.4%±2.4 pts	11.9%	−4.3 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line	14.8%±7.9 pts	14.3%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	5.2%±1.8 pts	7.9%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	86.6%±3.1 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 Lake County?

Owners occupy 73.8% of Lake County's occupied homes and renters 26.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $247,600 by its owner (±$21,400). The median renter pays $947 a month including utilities, and 37.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Lake County	South Dakota	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$247,600±$21,400	$257,400	+$40,351
Median gross rent	$947±$88	$946	+$212
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	37.4%±11.2 pts	30.4%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,586±$76	$1,680	–
Owner-occupied homes	73.8%±3.6 pts	68.6%	no clear change
Housing units	5,797±29	408,584	no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.8%±0.7 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	9.7%±6.6 pts	6.0%	–
Single-family detached homes	73.7%±3.4 pts	66.9%	–
Mobile homes	8.2%±2.8 pts	7.2%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.9%±1.1 pts	2.3%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	21.3%±2.8 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 Lake County building?

Builders took permits for 86 new housing units across Lake County in 2025 (26 single-family), 7.8 per 1,000 residents.

2019 39 units
2020 94 units
2021 67 units
2022 63 units
2023 48 units
2024 30 units
2025 86 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Lake County get to work?

77.9% of Lake County's workers drive alone and 10.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 14.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.0%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Lake County	South Dakota	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	65.4%±3.1 pts	67.2%	–
Unemployment rate	3.0%±1.2 pts	2.9%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	77.9%±3.8 pts	77.0%	–
Carpooled	5.9%±2.1 pts	8.3%	–
Public transportation	0.9%±0.8 pts	0.5%	–
Walked	3.8%±1.3 pts	3.1%	–
Worked from home	10.5%±2.7 pts	9.7%	+3.8 pts
Mean travel time to work	14.9 min±1.2	17.8 min	−2.6 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 Lake County's census tracts?

Lake County is divided into 4 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $44,327 (Tract 9602.01) to $105,545 (Tract 9603).

Census tracts of Lake County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 960146079960100	Ramona (4%)	2,241	2,483±194	$95,313	$243,600	$916	9.9%
Tract 9602.0146079960201	Madison (86%)	2,463	2,237±308	$44,327	$143,400	$964	17.1%
Tract 9602.0246079960202	Madison (93%)	3,872	3,941±306	$79,342	$230,700	$1,015	4.7%
Tract 960346079960300	Lake Madison (15%)	2,483	2,311±196	$105,545	$410,000	$821	4.4%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Lake County compare with South Dakota's other counties?

Lake County's rank among South Dakota's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	16th of 66
Growth 2020-2025	47th of 66
Residents per square mile	13th of 66
Median household income	17th of 66
Median home value	9th of 66
Median gross rent	12th of 65
Poverty rate	50th of 65
Bachelor's degree or higher	8th of 66
Median age	21st of 66

Every county in South Dakota

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 Lake 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.