Checked
Lake County, SD
11 cities and towns and 7 ZIP codes in Lake County, South Dakota.
Population
10,972
Land area
563sq mi
People per sq mi
19
ZIP codes
7
Cities and towns in Lake County
Lake County at a glance
- Lake County is 63% denser than South Dakota as a whole.
- The median household income is $76,808, close to the South Dakota median.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $247,600 (4% below South Dakota) and median rent is $947 a month.
- Its largest cities are Madison (6,094), Lake Madison (936) and Ramona (538).
Local data for Lake County, SD
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Lake County, SD, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$76,808
Poverty rate
8.4%
Median home value
$247,600
Prices +5.4% in a year
Median rent
$947/mo
Homeownership
73.8%
Bachelor's or higher
34.6%
Median age
43.8
Average commute
14.9 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (3,997), Norwegian Americans (1,789), Irish Americans (1,359).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
1.8%
Aug 2026, -0.1 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$59,153
5,142 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$103,883
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$104M
FY 2026, $9,417 per person
PPP loans
$34.8M
1,033 loans, 4,199 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$153K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Lake County, SD, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone77.9%
- Carpooled5.9%
- Public transit0.9%
- Walked3.8%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.0%
- Worked from home10.5%
Average one-way commute: 14.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Lake County, SD, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: winter weather
Storm events since 1996
623
Most often hail
Flood insurance policies
139
2.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
83° / 5°F
26.4 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone14 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Lake County, SD, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
32.5%
U.S. 33.3% -0.8 pts
Diabetes
12.0%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
13.2%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
7.7%
U.S. 11.1% -3.4 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Lake County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Lake County, SD?
- Madison is the largest city or town in Lake County, with about 6,094 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Lake County?
- Lake County includes 7 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 57016, 57042, 57050, 57054, 57057.
- What is the population of Lake County, SD?
- About 10,972 people live in Lake County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Lake County?
- Lake County borders Minnehaha County, Brookings County, Moody County, McCook County, Kingsbury County, Miner County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023