Cost of Living in Union County, South Dakota
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Union County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Union County ranks #2,530 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 19%)
Sourced county brief
Union County Median Gross Rent Reaches $1,069 Monthly
In Union County, the median gross rent is $1,069 per month, which is $284 higher than the South Dakota unweighted county mean of $785. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 24.6 percent, appearing 1.9 percentage points above the statewide unweighted county mean of 22.7 percent. Renter-households in the county have a median income of $48,750. Homeownership data show a median home value of $301,100, which is $120,079 above the state unweighted mean of $181,021. Median selected monthly owner costs for all units were $1,284, compared to the state unweighted mean of $853. These figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. The information serves as a point-in-time statistical overview of housing costs and incomes in the county. See ACS table B25064 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Union County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 24.6% of renter household income in Union County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,069 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,284. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $42,760 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The South Dakota unweighted mean of county median rents is $785 per month. Union County's $1,069 median is 36.2% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Union County
Rent Burden
14.3%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,092
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.2%
of gross income
The median home in Union County may be a stretch
Median home value is $301,100. Estimated monthly cost: $2,404 vs. your max of $2,092.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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