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Clay County, SD
4 cities and towns and 3 ZIP codes in Clay County, South Dakota.
Population
15,219
Land area
412sq mi
People per sq mi
37
ZIP codes
3
Cities and towns in Clay County
Clay County at a glance
- Clay County is about 3.1 times as dense as South Dakota as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $56,850 a year, 24% less than the South Dakota figure of $75,081.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $232,300 (10% below South Dakota) and median rent is $770 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Vermillion (11,878), Wakonda (399) and Burbank (110).
Local data for Clay County, SD
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Clay County, SD, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$56,850
Poverty rate
19.7%
Median home value
$232,300
Prices +4.6% in a year
Median rent
$770/mo
Homeownership
50.8%
Bachelor's or higher
45.4%
Median age
24.9
Average commute
19.5 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (5,188), Irish Americans (1,701), Norwegian Americans (1,382).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
2.1%
Aug 2026, -0.4 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$50,529
6,112 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$51,050
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$107M
FY 2026, $7,127 per person
PPP loans
$28.7M
1,031 loans, 3,473 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$61.2K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Clay County, SD, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone75.4%
- Carpooled5.8%
- Public transit1.5%
- Walked8.9%
- Bicycle1.2%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.6%
- Worked from home6.6%
Average one-way commute: 19.5 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Clay County, SD, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
630
Most often hail
Flood insurance policies
6
0.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
86° / 10°F
28.0 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone29 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Clay County, SD, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
34.7%
U.S. 33.3% +1.4 pts
Diabetes
8.1%
U.S. 12.1% -4.0 pts
Smoking
12.4%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
8.1%
U.S. 11.1% -3.0 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Clay County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Clay County, SD?
- Vermillion is the largest city or town in Clay County, with about 11,878 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Clay County?
- Clay County includes 3 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 57004, 57069, 57073.
- What is the population of Clay County, SD?
- About 15,219 people live in Clay County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Clay County?
- Clay County borders Lincoln County, Yankton County, Union County, Turner County, Cedar County, NE, Dixon County, NE.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023