State rank#2 of 66
Smallest county113,512 residentsMinnehaha County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 46103
Pennington County, South Dakota
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population113,512
Household income$74,517
Unemployment1.8%
Life expectancy76.1 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Pennington County has 113,512 residents and ranks #2 by population among South Dakota county equivalents. Median household income is $74,517. The annual-average unemployment rate is 1.8%. Its clearest relative strength is bachelor’s degree or higher. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within South Dakota
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Pennington County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Pennington County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is bachelor’s degree or higher.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $302,200 median home value and $1,120/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $74,517, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Pennington County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing bachelor’s degree or higher, mental health access, and primary care access. College attainment is 34.6% and life expectancy is 76.1 years.
Potential advantages
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 34.6%, rank #8 of 66 available South Dakota counties.
- Mental health access: 1 per 280 residents, rank #8 of 45 available South Dakota counties.
- Primary care access: 1 per 880 residents, rank #13 of 56 available South Dakota counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median gross rent: $1,120/mo, rank #64 of 66; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median home value: $302,200, rank #62 of 66; investigate local variation before moving.
- Life expectancy: 76.1 years, rank #43 of 61; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within South Dakota
Rank and range use only counties in South Dakota with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$74,517
$74,517; above the state county median of $72,653.
State rank #24 of 66 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$302,200
$302,200; above the state county median of $166,500.
State rank #62 of 66 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,120/mo
$1,120/mo; above the state county median of $762/mo.
State rank #64 of 66 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
1.8%
1.8%; at the state county median of 1.8%.
State rank #27 of 66 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
34.6%
34.6%; above the state county median of 25.2%.
State rank #8 of 66 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
76.1 years
76.1 years; below the state county median of 78.1 years.
State rank #43 of 61 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
14.4%
14.4%; above the state county median of 13.9%.
State rank #38 of 66 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
10.8%
10.8%; above the state county median of 10.6%.
State rank #35 of 66 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 880 residents
1 per 880 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,632 residents.
State rank #13 of 56 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 280 residents
1 per 280 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 840 residents.
State rank #8 of 45 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Pennington County FAQ
Is Pennington County a good place to live?
Pennington County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing bachelor’s degree or higher, mental health access, and primary care access. College attainment is 34.6% and life expectancy is 76.1 years.
What should I know before moving to Pennington County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $302,200 median home value and $1,120/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $74,517, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Pennington County?
Pennington County has 113,512 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Pennington County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 46103; the parent state FIPS is 46.
What is the median household income in Pennington County?
The ACS median household income is $74,517.
How much does housing cost in Pennington County?
Housing benchmarks are $302,200 median home value and $1,120/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $74,517, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Pennington County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 1.8%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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