County · South Dakota
Potter County, South Dakota
Potter County, South Dakota. Potter County had 2,377 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.9% since 2020, while South Dakota grew 5.5%. It holds 4 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs) and 1 census tract. GEOID 46107.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
2,377
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,472 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,388 ±127
Median household income
$72,045
±$16,190 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $75,081
Median home value
$121,300
±$23,890 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $257,400
Median gross rent
$1,008
±$419 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $946
How many people live in Potter County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 2,472 residents in Potter County. The Census Bureau estimates 2,377 for July 1, 2025, down 3.9% since 2020, while South Dakota grew 5.5%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 2,388 over 861 square miles of land.
| Measure | Potter County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,388±127 | 907,428 | no clear change |
| Households | 1,066±75 | 365,544 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.18±0.16 | 2.39 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,567±55 | 408,584 | no clear change |
Potter County's population since 2000
From 2,693 in 2000 to 2,377 in 2025: down 11.7%. 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 Potter County?
Potter County holds 4 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Gettysburg with 1,049 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Gettysburg | 1,104 | $63,929 |
|---|---|---|
| HovenGEOID 4630300 | 379 | $60,625 |
| TolstoyGEOID 4663700 | 35 | $76,071 |
| LebanonGEOID 4636260 | 33 | $63,125 |
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 Potter County?
The median resident of Potter County is 49.9 years old; 20.4% are under 18 and 30.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.3%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 2.5%.
| Measure | Potter County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.9±3.8 | 38.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.4%±2.3 pts | 24.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 30.7%±2.4 pts | 18.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.0%±1.0 pts | 4.8% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 93.3%±2.1 pts | 79.8% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.5%±1.5 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.7 pts | 1.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.9%±0.9 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.0 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.5%±2.0 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.2%±2.0 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.3%±0.9 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.8%±1.5 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.3%±1.6 pts | 7.9% | – |
| With a disability | 12.2%±2.4 pts | 12.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.3%±1.8 pts | 9.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.3%±1.8 pts | 93.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 27.2%±3.9 pts | 31.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.4%±1.7 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.8%±1.5 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 Potter County earn?
Half of Potter County's 1,066 households earn less than $72,045 a year (±$16,190), against $75,081 in South Dakota. In 2015-2019 it was $67,175 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 6.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Potter County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $72,045±$16,190 | $75,081 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $89,555±$8,245 | $98,527 | – |
| Per capita income | $39,966±$3,672 | $40,550 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 6.2%±2.2 pts | 11.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.9%±5.8 pts | 14.3% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 2.1%±1.6 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.0%±3.5 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 Potter County?
Owners occupy 81.5% of Potter County's occupied homes and renters 18.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $121,300 by its owner (±$23,890). The median renter pays $1,008 a month including utilities, and 40.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Potter County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $121,300±$23,890 | $257,400 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $1,008±$419 | $946 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 40.3%±14.7 pts | 30.4% | +24.5 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,260±$150 | $1,680 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 81.5%±4.7 pts | 68.6% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,567±55 | 408,584 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 4.0%±3.9 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.6%±9.6 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 68.3%±4.6 pts | 66.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 25.3%±4.7 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.4%±0.5 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 16.1%±3.4 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 Potter County building?
Builders took permits for 14 new housing units across Potter County in 2025 (14 single-family), 5.9 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 Potter County get to work?
77.1% of Potter County's workers drive alone and 6.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 14.2 minutes.
| Measure | Potter County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 61.5%±4.1 pts | 67.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.6%±2.2 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 77.1%±6.1 pts | 77.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.2%±5.5 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±2.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 4.7%±3.2 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.0%±2.2 pts | 9.7% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 14.2 min±1.8 | 17.8 min | no clear change |
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 Potter County's census tracts?
Potter County is a single census tract.
| Tract 146107000100 | 2,388±127 | $72,045 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Potter County compare with South Dakota's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 52nd of 66 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 61st of 66 |
| Residents per square mile | 48th of 66 |
| Median household income | 35th of 66 |
| Median home value | 55th of 66 |
| Median gross rent | 6th of 65 |
| Poverty rate | 60th of 65 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28th of 66 |
| Median age | 6th 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 Potter 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.