Minnehaha County, South Dakota

County Distress Index: Healthy · 29.7 | 206,930 people · 39th most distressed in South Dakota
American Default Research

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Minnehaha County, SD ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 29.7 — 2897th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within South Dakota, it ranks 39th of 66 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Minnehaha County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 56.7 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 56.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 49
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 38
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 82
Homeownership Rate 88
Rent-to-Income Ratio 28
Debt & Delinquency 31.3
Debt in Collections 33
Medical Debt 24
Student Loan Delinquency 23
Auto Loan Delinquency 36
Credit Card Delinquency 31
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 41
Community Vulnerability 28.3
Uninsured Rate 50
Disability Rate 6
Income & Poverty 19.8
Poverty Rate 18
Income vs. State Median 30
Child Poverty Rate 12
Employment & Wages 12.4
Unemployment Rate 6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 15
Business Formation Rate 16

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How Minnehaha County compares to its 8 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Minnehaha County
Minnehaha County, SD 29.7 Healthy —
Pipestone County, MN 36.9 Normal +7.1
Moody County, SD 31.8 Healthy +2.1
Lake County, SD 28.3 Healthy -1.4
McCook County, SD 26.9 Healthy -2.8
Rock County, MN 24.8 Healthy -4.9
Turner County, SD 24.5 Healthy -5.2
Lyon County, IA 16.9 Healthy -12.8
Lincoln County, SD 15.2 Healthy -14.5

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Minnehaha County
Portage County, WI 29.7 Healthy -0.0
Wright County, MN 29.7 Healthy -0.0
Saratoga County, NY 29.7 Healthy -0.0
Platte County, MO 29.8 Healthy +0.1
Box Elder County, UT 29.8 Healthy +0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Minnehaha County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Minnehaha County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Minnehaha County.

LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF SOUTH DAKOTA - CCCS
Sioux Falls
605-330-2700 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHomeless/DisplacementPre-Lease/Pre-Purchase

See all counselors in South Dakota →

Find an Attorney

State Bar of South Dakota Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

State Bar of South Dakota Lawyer Referral Service 605-224-7554

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Minnehaha County residents at no cost.

East River Legal Services 1-800-952-3015
Dakota Plains Legal Services 1-800-658-2297

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in South Dakota →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Minnehaha County, South Dakota?

    Minnehaha County has a County Distress Index score of 29.7 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,897th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 39th in South Dakota out of 66 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Minnehaha County?

    The primary driver of distress in Minnehaha County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 56.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Minnehaha County compare to neighboring counties?

    Minnehaha County (29.7) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Pipestone County, MN (36.9); Moody County, SD (31.8); Lake County, SD (28.3).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • What is the population of Minnehaha County?

    Minnehaha County, South Dakota has a population of approximately 206,930 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.