Unemployment in Hutchinson County, South Dakota, is lower than in 99% of U.S. counties
In Hutchinson County, 1.9% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is lower than in 99% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 99% of U.S. counties.
What drives Hutchinson County's score
In Hutchinson County, income and the safety net is the highest-scoring part, at 27.6. Jobs are the lowest part, at 5.0.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Hutchinson 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.
Hutchinson County isn't among the worst-off quarter of U.S. counties on any measure.
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 27.6 of 100
Income and safety net
Biggest factorPoverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line12.2% · 202441st percentile
- Children below the poverty line13.1% · 202428th percentile
- People with a disability12.0% · 2020 to 202414th percentile
- People without health insurance5.1% · 2020 to 202420th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$73,237 · 202432nd percentile
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- 14.4 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent11.8% · 2020 to 202418th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income16.6% · fiscal year 202710th percentile
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- 9.9 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind3.3% · August 202514th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind0.0% · August 20255th or lower percentile
- People with a subprime credit score28.9% · second quarter of 202610th percentile
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- 5.6 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector9.3% · August 20255th or lower percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people40.6 · 20256th percentile
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- 5.0 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year1.9% · Oct 2025 to Sep 20265th or lower percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working9.0% · 2020 to 20245th or lower percentile
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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 Hutchinson 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 Hutchinson County, 21.8% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Hutchinson County
South Dakota
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Hutchinson County had its largest rise, from 13.1% in 1979 to 17.5% in 1984.
In Hutchinson County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 20.3% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about three times as much as benefit checks
In Hutchinson County, South Dakota, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 20.3%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Hutchinson County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 8.0% in 2016 to 6.5% in 2017.
The share of households in Hutchinson County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2014 and has since fallen to 7.9%
Low on the chart: 3.4% 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, Hutchinson County, South Dakota.
How Hutchinson County has changed
Hutchinson County's population had its largest drop, from 9,089 in 1984 to 8,389 in 1989.
Hutchinson County's population fell 29% from 1969 to 2024
High on the chart: 10,442 in 1969. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Hutchinson County, South Dakota.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Hutchinson County rose by about a quarter to 2,775, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 1990 to 1995, reaching 2,510. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Hutchinson County, South Dakota.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 2.1% | 2025 1.9% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 14.3% | 2024 12.2% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $20,052 | 2024 $73,237 |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Hutchinson County's history
1862
1862 (created) 1871 (organized). Wikipedia
1930
The county's largest recorded population was the 1930 Census count of 13,904. The 2020 Census counted 7,427, 53% of the peak. Census Bureau
2000
Hail in August 2000 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2008
A flash flood in June 2008 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2009
Hail in July 2009 did $3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
A flood in April 2011 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1969
24 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Hutchinson County, 14 of them for flooding. FEMA
Hutchinson County beside its neighbors
Of the eight counties that border Hutchinson County, seven score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Hutchinson County ranks 3rd of the nine; Charles Mix County is highest, at 25.6%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Mix County, SD | 20 | 20.3% | 25.6% |
| Davison County, SD | 9 | 10.8% | 18.0% |
| McCook County, SD | 4 | 8.3% | 17.4% |
| Yankton County, SD | 3 | 10.9% | 18.4% |
| Bon Homme County, SD | 2 | 14.2% | 23.7% |
| Turner County, SD | 2 | 9.5% | 13.4% |
| Douglas County, SD | 1 | 10.3% | 19.5% |
| Hutchinson County, SD | 0 | 12.2% | 20.3% |
| Hanson County, SD | 0 | 8.7% | 14.1% |
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 Hutchinson County the poorest county in South Dakota?
No, Hutchinson County's poverty rate was 12.2% in 2024, 26th 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, Hutchinson County ranks 58th of 66 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Hutchinson 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.
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East River Legal Services
Legal aid
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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 Hutchinson 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 Hutchinson County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.