It's no secret that many Americans are forgoing homeownership in favor of renting. In 2020, renters in the U.S. occupied 43 million housing units.
The Stacker team looked at data from a United States Census survey that revealed an estimated 43,378,800 renter-occupied homes in the United States as of 2017, which makes up 36.1% of all households in the country. In 2019, renting was more affordable than buying a median-priced home in 59% of the counties; in 2021, the opposite was true: Owning was more affordable than renting in 63% of U.S. counties.
Stacker compiled a list of counties in South Dakota where people spend the highest percent of income on rent using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Of course, saving money by owning a home is unattainable for many Americans who don't have savings that could cover a down payment, those who are denied a mortgage, or both. Keep reading to see where in your home state most of people's take-home pay goes to their monthly rent.
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#50. Miner County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 12.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 59.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.2%
- Total occupied households: 948
- Median household income: $52,910
- Median monthly housing cost: $565
#49. Kingsbury County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 12.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 66.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 17.5%
- Total occupied households: 2,279
- Median household income: $61,699
- Median monthly housing cost: $665
#48. Dewey County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 12.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 62.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 16.3%
- Total occupied households: 1,651
- Median household income: $47,475
- Median monthly housing cost: $512
#47. Douglas County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 12.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 63.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 15.7%
- Total occupied households: 1,220
- Median household income: $58,684
- Median monthly housing cost: $633
#45. Faulk County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 13.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 65.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 14.9%
- Total occupied households: 895
- Median household income: $55,096
- Median monthly housing cost: $598
#44. Hyde County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 13.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 64.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 17.4%
- Total occupied households: 597
- Median household income: $57,788
- Median monthly housing cost: $634
#43. Lyman County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 13.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 59.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 16.0%
- Total occupied households: 1,397
- Median household income: $53,862
- Median monthly housing cost: $594
#42. Spink County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 13.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 67.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 14.2%
- Total occupied households: 2,624
- Median household income: $54,423
- Median monthly housing cost: $603
#40. Charles Mix County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 13.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 59.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.7%
- Total occupied households: 3,166
- Median household income: $50,481
- Median monthly housing cost: $563
#39. Hamlin County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 13.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 62.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 15.0%
- Total occupied households: 2,256
- Median household income: $67,105
- Median monthly housing cost: $753
#38. McCook County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 13.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 59.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 14.0%
- Total occupied households: 2,228
- Median household income: $61,507
- Median monthly housing cost: $692
#37. Jerauld County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 13.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 63.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 15.6%
- Total occupied households: 921
- Median household income: $49,632
- Median monthly housing cost: $574
#35. Hand County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 13.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 16.1%
- Total occupied households: 1,508
- Median household income: $54,155
- Median monthly housing cost: $628
#34. Clark County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 58.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.5%
- Total occupied households: 1,546
- Median household income: $48,980
- Median monthly housing cost: $590
#33. Turner County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.2%
- Total occupied households: 3,498
- Median household income: $59,242
- Median monthly housing cost: $714
#32. Buffalo County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.3%
- Total occupied households: 564
- Median household income: $34,808
- Median monthly housing cost: $422
#30. Lake County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 61.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.5%
- Total occupied households: 4,700
- Median household income: $61,846
- Median monthly housing cost: $763
#29. Stanley County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 61.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 17.6%
- Total occupied households: 1,344
- Median household income: $71,382
- Median monthly housing cost: $882
#28. Day County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.8%
- Total occupied households: 2,574
- Median household income: $46,679
- Median monthly housing cost: $577
#27. Walworth County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 59.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.2%
- Total occupied households: 2,258
- Median household income: $55,583
- Median monthly housing cost: $692
#25. Gregory County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 59.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.3%
- Total occupied households: 1,840
- Median household income: $43,438
- Median monthly housing cost: $543
#24. Brule County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.4%
- Total occupied households: 2,231
- Median household income: $57,196
- Median monthly housing cost: $715
#23. Corson County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.5%
- Total occupied households: 1,195
- Median household income: $35,759
- Median monthly housing cost: $455
#22. Bennett County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 17.4%
- Total occupied households: 984
- Median household income: $47,500
- Median monthly housing cost: $609
#21. Fall River County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.0%
- Total occupied households: 2,986
- Median household income: $50,588
- Median monthly housing cost: $654
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#20. Hughes County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 60.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.8%
- Total occupied households: 7,460
- Median household income: $64,783
- Median monthly housing cost: $839
#19. Union County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 62.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 15.2%
- Total occupied households: 6,619
- Median household income: $70,378
- Median monthly housing cost: $912
#18. Brown County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.5%
- Total occupied households: 16,305
- Median household income: $58,216
- Median monthly housing cost: $818
#17. Codington County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.6%
- Total occupied households: 12,075
- Median household income: $56,376
- Median monthly housing cost: $796
#16. Ziebach County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.9%
- Total occupied households: 754
- Median household income: $37,400
- Median monthly housing cost: $533
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#15. Haakon County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.2%
- Total occupied households: 822
- Median household income: $42,250
- Median monthly housing cost: $608
#14. Jackson County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.2%
- Total occupied households: 858
- Median household income: $33,295
- Median monthly housing cost: $480
#13. Brookings County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.3%
- Total occupied households: 12,896
- Median household income: $58,136
- Median monthly housing cost: $839
#12. Oglala Lakota County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.4%
- Total occupied households: 2,729
- Median household income: $31,997
- Median monthly housing cost: $462
#11. Lincoln County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.8%
- Total occupied households: 19,749
- Median household income: $82,473
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,207
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#10. Mellette County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.3%
- Total occupied households: 661
- Median household income: $30,650
- Median monthly housing cost: $452
#9. Custer County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.3%
- Total occupied households: 3,876
- Median household income: $58,522
- Median monthly housing cost: $870
#8. Minnehaha County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.1%
- Total occupied households: 76,819
- Median household income: $61,772
- Median monthly housing cost: $931
#7. Todd County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.3%
- Total occupied households: 2,700
- Median household income: $24,331
- Median monthly housing cost: $377
#6. Lawrence County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.8%
- Total occupied households: 11,048
- Median household income: $52,641
- Median monthly housing cost: $825
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#5. Clay County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 32.7%
- Total occupied households: 5,233
- Median household income: $50,724
- Median monthly housing cost: $799
#4. Davison County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.4%
- Total occupied households: 8,660
- Median household income: $50,570
- Median monthly housing cost: $812
#3. Meade County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 43.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.0%
- Total occupied households: 11,027
- Median household income: $60,578
- Median monthly housing cost: $980
#2. Pennington County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.0%
- Total occupied households: 44,074
- Median household income: $57,039
- Median monthly housing cost: $931
#1. Butte County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.9%
- Total occupied households: 4,164
- Median household income: $46,508
- Median monthly housing cost: $785
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