Your life in Pennington County, South Dakota

What stands out

What stands out about Pennington County: violent crime is in the bottom 2% of American counties (2.8 per 1,000), unemployment is in the bottom 5% of American counties (2.0%), and high-school completion is in the top 11% of American counties (94%). Within South Dakota it ranks 20th of 66 counties for violent crime, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Pennington County, South Dakota. 110,386 people live here with you. The population grew 1.4% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +1,213).

South Dakota has no income tax, no estate tax and no corporate income tax, and it is the country's largest trust jurisdiction because of its favorable trust law. Sales tax applies to groceries and most services. Sioux Falls and Rapid City carry most of the growth; the state's winters are long and its plains are exposed to severe storms. Property taxes are moderate.

Money

The typical household here brings in $67,823 a year, higher than 69% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $57,286. Unemployment runs 2.0%, lower than 95% of American counties. 8% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 17 minutes each way.

South Dakota has no state income tax, so none of that goes to the state.

Home

The median home costs $367K, pricier than 82% of American counties, about 2.9 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,049 a month. Property tax is 1.18% of home value, roughly $2,916 a year on that median home, higher than 71% of American counties. 69% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 2.8 per 1,000 residents, lower than 98% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 10 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 76.4 years, longer than 57% of American counties. There are 448 active physicians in the county, about 40.6 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 3.0 of 5 stars. 10.5% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.98 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 53% of American counties. 94% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 25 points. 67% of eligible voters turned out. Under South Dakota law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is banned with narrow exceptions, and marijuana is medical only.

Weather and risk

The year averages 48°F, highs near 61 and lows near 35, colder than 82% of American counties. About 21 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 85 out of 100, riskier than 86% of American counties; the county has had 21 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 253 Mbps down, faster than 76% of American counties. There are 4 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.9 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 11 breweries, 14 museums, 2 National Park Service sites.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• South Dakota tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.