Unemployment in Beadle County, South Dakota, is lower than in 98% of U.S. counties
In Beadle County, 2.0% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is lower than in 98% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 83% of U.S. counties.
What drives Beadle County's score
In Beadle County, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 47.4. Jobs are the lowest part, at 9.1.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Beadle County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Even so, Beadle County is worse off than most counties on renters paying half their income or more in rent (23.3%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 47.4 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent23.3% · 2020 to 202479th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income17.3% · fiscal year 202715th percentile
-
- 34.5 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line10.7% · 202428th percentile
- Children below the poverty line14.7% · 202437th percentile
- People with a disability14.3% · 2020 to 202433rd percentile
- People without health insurance7.4% · 2020 to 202445th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$75,646 · 202428th percentile
-
- 32.3 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.8% · August 202538th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.5% · August 202525th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score35.8% · second quarter of 202632nd percentile
-
- 24.1 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector18.5% · August 202532nd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people61.3 · 202515th percentile
-
- 9.1 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year2.0% · Oct 2025 to Sep 20265th or lower percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working14.3% · 2020 to 202413th percentile
-
Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Beadle County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Beadle County, 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Beadle County
South Dakota
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Beadle County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 19.1% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about three times as much as benefit checks
In Beadle County, South Dakota, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 19.1%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Beadle County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 8.8% in 2012 to 13.4% in 2013.
The share of households in Beadle County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2017 and has since fallen by about a third
Low on the chart: 7.0% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Beadle County, South Dakota.
How Beadle County has changed
Beadle County's population had its largest drop, from 20,847 in 1974 to 19,385 in 1979.
Beadle County's population fell 7% from 1969 to 2024, with its low point on the chart in 2004
Low on the chart: 16,370 in 2004. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Beadle County, South Dakota.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Beadle County rose 14% from 1990 to 2025, with most of the change between 2005 and 2010
High on the chart: 8,550 in 2015. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Beadle County, South Dakota.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.1% | 2025 2.0% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 11.3% | 2024 10.7% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $23,266 | 2024 $75,646 |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Beadle County's history
1879
1879 (created) 1880 (organized). Wikipedia
1930
The county's largest recorded population was the 1930 Census count of 22,917. The 2020 Census counted 19,149, 84% of the peak. Census Bureau
2003
A tornado in June 2003 did $1.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2006
A tornado in August 2006 did $15 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2006
A tornado in August 2006 did $2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
A flood in April 2011 did $2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
-
Since 1969
20 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Beadle County, 13 of them for flooding. FEMA
Beadle County beside its neighbors
Beadle County scores higher than all six counties that border it. For the share of income from benefit checks, Beadle County ranks 4th of the seven; Jerauld County is highest, at 24.3%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beadle County, SD | 16 | 10.7% | 19.1% |
| Clark County, SD | 7 | 10.0% | 13.1% |
| Sanborn County, SD | 5 | 12.7% | 19.5% |
| Spink County, SD | 3 | 11.7% | 22.2% |
| Jerauld County, SD | 3 | 14.3% | 24.3% |
| Kingsbury County, SD | 0 | 9.0% | 19.0% |
| Hand County, SD | 0 | 8.4% | 16.0% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Beadle County the poorest county in South Dakota?
No, Beadle County's poverty rate was 10.7% in 2024, 40th highest of 66 in South Dakota (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Ziebach County, at 45.8%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Beadle County ranks 20th of 66 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Beadle County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
-
CCCS of LSS - South Dakota
HUD-approved housing counselor
-
East River Legal Services
Legal aid
-
HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Beadle County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Beadle County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.