HomeSouth DakotaLincoln County
Lincoln County, South Dakota: commercial real estate data.
Lincoln County, South Dakota had an estimated 75,244 residents on July 1, 2024, up 15.5 percent since the 2020 census base of 65,156, across 577 square miles. County output reached $8.82 bn in 2024, 2,184 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 111 7(a) approvals worth $42.9 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Lincoln County
How many people live in Lincoln County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202470,638
- Households27,879
- Average household size2.53
- Median household income$99,166
- Median age35.9
- Median gross rent$1,260 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$348,300
- Home value to household income3.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher44.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree14.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over46,485
- Population under 1818,691
- Share under 1826.5 percent
- Population 65 and over10,366
- Share 65 and over14.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6441,581
- Civilian labor force40,759
- Unemployment rate1.7 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over78.5 percent
- Rank by population among South Dakota counties3rd of 66
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included784th of 3,222
Lincoln County is the 3rd largest of 66 South Dakota counties by population. A median home costs 3.5 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 26.5 percent against 14.7 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Lincoln County
Is Lincoln County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202475,244
- Census 2020 base population65,156
- Population change since the 2020 census base15.48 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20242,102
- Births, 2024564
- Deaths, 2024380
- Natural change, 2024184
- Net domestic migration, 20241,824
- Net international migration, 202489
- Total net migration, 20241,913
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20247,684
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents53rd of 3,144
The county has grown 15.48 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Lincoln County
Where are people moving to Lincoln County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving3,805
- People arriving, from those returns6,628
- Tax returns filed by households leaving2,741
- Net household movement1,064
- Adjusted gross income arriving$318.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$90.1 m
- Average income of an arriving household$83,648
- Average income of a leaving household$83,265
- Largest single originMinnehaha County (1,881 households)
- Largest single destinationMinnehaha County (1,485 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnehaha County | 1,881 | 3,304 | $161.8 m |
| Brookings County | 49 | 61 | $2.6 m |
| Turner County | 48 | 86 | $2.6 m |
| Pennington County | 47 | 76 | $3.7 m |
| Davison County | 45 | 71 | $3.0 m |
| Hennepin County | 42 | 56 | $3.8 m |
| Brown County | 39 | 54 | $2.1 m |
| Union County | 39 | 74 | $4.8 m |
Households arriving report $383 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Minnehaha County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Lincoln County
What is the Lincoln County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$8.82 bn
- County GDP, 2023$8.65 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.0 percent
- GDP change over five years57.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the South Dakota areas BEA publishes2nd of 66
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes491st of 3,127
- GDP per resident$124,902
Output grew 2.0 percent in the latest year and 57.3 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Lincoln County
Employment by industry in Lincoln County
- Covered employment, annual average29,694
- Establishments reporting2,515
- Average annual pay$65,125
- Average weekly wage$1,252
- Health care and social assistance, employment5,481
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$66,351
- Finance and insurance, employment2,959
- Finance and insurance, average annual pay$109,824
- Retail trade, employment2,948
- Retail trade, average annual pay$42,626
- Construction, employment2,851
- Construction, average annual pay$70,056
- Manufacturing, employment2,650
- Accommodation and food services, employment2,136
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 5,481 | 234 | $66,351 |
| Finance and insurance | 2,959 | 239 | $109,824 |
| Retail trade | 2,948 | 176 | $42,626 |
| Construction | 2,851 | 365 | $70,056 |
| Manufacturing | 2,650 | 70 | $63,050 |
| Accommodation and food services | 2,136 | 100 | $22,164 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 1,591 | 374 | $95,421 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,110 | 222 | $91,977 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 5,481 jobs, 18.5 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Lincoln County
How many businesses are in Lincoln County?
- Establishments, all industries2,184
- Employment at those establishments29,283
- Annual payroll$1.78 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents30.9
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Lincoln County
Building permits in Lincoln County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024268
- Declared construction value permitted$65.7 m
- Single family units authorized206
- Multifamily units authorized62
- Multifamily share of units23.1 percent
- Average declared value per unit$245,077
- Units authorized per 1,000 households9.6
Single-family homes are 76.9 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Lincoln County
SBA loans in Lincoln County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded111
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$42.9 m
- Average 7(a) approval$386,411
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- 10th percentile approval$22,700
- 90th percentile approval$812,600
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)907
- Jobs per approval8.2
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active26
- Distinct industries receiving approvals72
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer8.1 percent
- Loans on real estate terms9
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter95
- Franchise loans11
- Franchise share of approvals9.9 percent
- Leading industry by approval countPoured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors (6)
- Most active lenderThe First National Bank in Sioux Falls (31)
- 504 approvals recorded157
- 504 gross approval dollars$94.7 m
- Average 504 approval$603,401
- Median 504 approval$426,000
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval8.9
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved14.8
- Most active CDCDakota Business Finance (115)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$137.6 m
The average approval of $386,411 sits well above the median of $150,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 8.1 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lincoln County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Lincoln County
Do SBA loans in Lincoln County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded35
- Paid in full33
- Charged off2
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans5.7 percent
- Status: Paid in full33
- Status: Cancelled7
- Status: Exempt from disclosure67
- Status: Charged off2
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Of the 35 loans that have reached a final outcome, 5.7 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lincoln County
SBA lending by place in Lincoln County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending8
- Sioux Falls, approvals54
- Tea, approvals22
- Harrisburg, approvals13
- Lennox, approvals10
- Worthing, approvals5
- Canton, approvals5
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | 54 | $21,941,500 |
| Tea | 22 | $9,701,400 |
| Harrisburg | 13 | $3,535,600 |
| Lennox | 10 | $3,715,900 |
| Worthing | 5 | $2,343,000 |
| Canton | 5 | $1,623,500 |
| Sioux Fall | 1 | $22,700 |
| Hudson | 1 | $8,000 |
Sioux Falls accounts for 54 approvals against 22 in Tea. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lincoln County
How large is Lincoln County?
- Land area577 sq mi
- Rank by land area among South Dakota counties51st of 66
- Width, east to west24.6 mi
- Height, north to south28.8 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land122
- Establishments per square mile3.79
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Lincoln County
Flood risk in Lincoln County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Lincoln County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 460277
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book10
- Of those, participating in the NFIP8
- NFIP participation rate80.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 6
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Lincoln County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Lincoln County (community 460277), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Lincoln County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 6, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 80.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Lincoln County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Lincoln County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202470,638
- Households27,879
- Average household size2.53
- Median household income$99,166
- Median age35.9
Common questions
Lincoln County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Lincoln County, South Dakota?
The Census Bureau estimates 75,244 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 70,638, in 27,879 households, ranking 3rd of 66 South Dakota counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Lincoln County's population growing?
The population has grown 15.48 percent since the 2020 census base of 65,156, to 75,244 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 564 births against 380 deaths, with net migration of 1,913. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Lincoln County?
$99,166. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $348,300, which is 3.5 times income, and median gross rent is $1,260 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Lincoln County?
2,184 establishments, employing 29,283 people with an annual payroll of $1.78 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Lincoln County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 5,481 jobs, 18.5 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 29,694 jobs at an average annual pay of $65,125, or $1,252 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Lincoln County?
111 7(a) approvals totaling $42.9 m since FY2020, across 26 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 157 504 approvals worth $94.7 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Lincoln County get paid back?
Of the 35 loans that have reached a final outcome, 33 were paid in full and 2 charged off, a charge-off rate of 5.7 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Lincoln County?
268 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $65.7 m. Multifamily was 23.1 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Lincoln County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Lincoln County come from?
The largest single origin is Minnehaha County, with 1,881 households. Arriving households report an average income of $83,648 against $83,265 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Lincoln County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Lincoln County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Lincoln County
Cities and places in Lincoln.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Lincoln County. All 10 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | city | 201,469 | 54 | 16.4 percent here, 83.6 percent Minnehaha County |
| Harrisburg | city | 8,519 | 13 | Wholly in this county |
| Tea | city | 6,786 | 22 | Wholly in this county |
| Canton | city | 3,033 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Lennox | city | 2,468 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Beresford | city | 2,360 | None recorded | 26.8 percent here, 73.2 percent Union County |
| Worthing | city | 1,036 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Shindler | CDP | 579 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hudson | town | 382 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Fairview | town | 102 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 111 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Lincoln County, the largest being Sioux Fall (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.