CountyScore

Potter County

South Dakota · SD

#23 in South Dakota
73.4
County Score

County Report Card

About Potter County, South Dakota

Well Above National Median, Top 20%

Potter County scores 73.4 out of 100, placing it in the top 20% of U.S. counties and significantly above the national median of 50.0. This strong performance indicates solid overall livability and quality of life.

Outperforms State Average Clearly

At 73.4, Potter County exceeds South Dakota's 71.3 state average and ranks in the upper quartile of counties statewide. This positions it as one of the state's most livable communities.

Health and Risk Profile Lead the Way

Potter County excels with the highest health score in this cohort at 79.4 and strong risk resilience at 90.0, indicating stability and good healthcare access. Housing affordability remains solid at 82.7 with median home value of $121,300.

Income Growth Lags Regional Peers

Median household income of $71,726 produces a score of 30.2, the lowest dimension and indicating limited wage opportunities. Tax burden at 1.371% is slightly elevated compared to state benchmarks.

Great for Health-Focused Rural Families

Potter County suits families and retirees prioritizing excellent healthcare and strong economic resilience over high wages, with an especially appealing profile for seniors. The combination of strong health infrastructure and low-cost housing makes it attractive for quality-of-life focused households.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax63.7Cost82.7SafetyComing SoonHealth79.4SchoolsComing SoonIncome30.2Risk90WaterComing Soon
🏛63.7
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠82.7
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼30.2
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤79.4
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡90
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Potter County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Lemhi County
Idaho
73.4
Median income: $52,057
DeKalb County
Indiana
73.4
Median income: $70,080
Sullivan County
Missouri
73.4
Median income: $55,500
Antelope County
Nebraska
73.4
Median income: $63,750
Grant County
Oregon
73.4
Median income: $59,800

Deep Dives

Potter County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Potter County

via TaxByCounty

Potter County's taxes are among the nation's highest

Potter County's effective tax rate of 1.371% ranks among the highest in the United States, significantly above the national median of 0.84%. The median annual property tax of $1,663 reflects this aggressive tax collection relative to the national norm.

Potter ranks second-highest in South Dakota

Potter County's 1.371% effective tax rate is the second-highest in South Dakota, just behind Perkins County at 1.327%. Both northwest counties operate well above the state average of 1.094%, indicating a regional pattern of higher taxation.

Highest-taxed county in the eight-county group

Potter's 1.371% rate edges out all comparison counties, including Perkins (1.327%) and Sanborn (1.264%). This northwest corner of South Dakota carries the heaviest property tax burden among the eight counties studied.

Budget $1,663 for annual property taxes

On Potter's median home value of $121,300, homeowners pay $1,663 yearly in property taxes. Mortgage holders face slightly higher bills at $1,830, while outright owners average $1,587 annually.

Potter homeowners should prioritize tax appeals

As South Dakota's second-highest-taxed county, Potter homeowners have exceptional incentive to verify their property valuations. An estimated 30% of homeowners nationally are overassessed—filing a property tax appeal is a free opportunity to challenge any inflated assessment and reduce your annual burden.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Potter County

via CostByCounty

Potter offers reliable affordability below national

Potter County's rent-to-income ratio of 14.5% sits modestly above the national average but remains manageable given the county's rural character. With median household income of $71,726 and median rent of $869, residents maintain reasonable housing stability without extreme cost burden.

Slightly above state average on affordability

Potter County's 14.5% rent-to-income ratio edges above South Dakota's 13.8% state average, placing it in the middle tier of regional affordability. The median rent of $869 reflects a rural community with moderate cost growth but strong income relative to neighboring counties.

Potter prices higher than most rural peers

Potter County's $869 median rent exceeds Roberts ($656) and Sanborn ($717) but undercuts the urban centers Minnehaha ($954) and Pennington ($1,066). The county occupies a transition zone between affordable rural areas and pricier regional hubs.

Modest gap between rent and homeownership

Renters pay $869 monthly while homeowners average $657—a 24% discount reflecting affordable median home values of $121,300. Both tenure types remain comfortably affordable, with costs consuming around 12-15% of the $71,726 median household income.

Potter: rural stability with decent incomes

Potter County suits those seeking rural character without sacrificing income; the $71,726 median household income exceeds many neighboring counties while maintaining reasonable housing costs. Budget-conscious homebuyers especially should consider Potter's favorable ownership costs and accessible property values.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Potter County

via IncomeByCounty

Potter approaches national income parity

Potter County's median household income of $71,726 approaches the national median of $74,755, falling short by just $3,029. The county demonstrates solid economic positioning despite its small, rural character.

Upper-middle rank in state

Potter County ranks fourth among South Dakota counties with a median household income of $71,726, exceeding the state average of $66,926 by 7.2%. The county benefits from a stable mix of agriculture, ranching, and small business.

Strong position among peers

Potter's $71,726 income outpaces Roberts County ($63,691) and Sanborn County ($69,870), falling just short of Moody County ($77,500) and Pennington County ($70,768). The county demonstrates economic resilience in a rural setting.

Excellent housing affordability

A rent-to-income ratio of 14.5% keeps housing costs well under control, consuming less than one-sixth of median income. At a median home value of $121,300, Potter offers exceptional value for homebuyers seeking stability.

Build on affordable foundations

Potter County residents enjoy above-average income and low housing costs—a powerful combination for wealth building. Lock in your housing advantage through homeownership, then redirect the savings into retirement accounts and long-term investments for sustainable financial growth.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Potter County

via HealthByCounty

Potter County achieves remarkable longevity

Potter County's 80.7-year life expectancy ranks among the highest in the nation, stretching 4.6 years beyond the U.S. average of 76.1 years. At 12.9% poor/fair health, the county significantly outperforms the national rate of 17.9%, marking exceptional wellness outcomes.

South Dakota's longevity leader

Potter County's 80.7-year life expectancy tops South Dakota at 5.3 years above the state average of 75.4 years. The county's 12.9% poor/fair health rate reflects state-leading health security and preventive care culture.

Rural excellence amid provider scarcity

Potter County's 80.7-year life expectancy towers over neighboring Roberts County (72.2 years) and exceeds Perkins County (78.7 years). Despite limited primary care at 40 per 100K, the county's residents achieve outstanding longevity, suggesting strong community health practices and preventive engagement.

Lowest uninsured rate in the county set

Potter County's 8.3% uninsured rate ranks lowest among all eight counties, indicating strong insurance uptake and access. Though primary care is limited at 40 per 100K and mental health at just 41 per 100K, residents' exceptional longevity suggests effective health management and preventive engagement.

Protect Potter's health success

Potter County's remarkable 80.7-year life expectancy reflects strong community health culture—maintain it by ensuring all residents stay insured. Verify your coverage through the South Dakota Health Insurance Marketplace to keep this rural county's wellness advantage intact.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Potter County

via RiskByCounty

Potter County offers exceptional safety

Potter County scores just 10.02 on the composite risk scale, placing it among the safest counties in the United States for natural disaster exposure. The county's very low rating sits well below the South Dakota state average of 26.84, indicating minimal hazard threat across all major categories.

Among South Dakota's safest counties

Potter County ranks in the bottom tier of disaster-prone South Dakota counties, with composite risk substantially below the state average. The county's position reflects favorable geographic location insulated from major hazard zones and stable underlying conditions.

Safer than all surrounding counties

Potter County's risk score of 10.02 ranks as one of the lowest in its region, well below nearby Oglala Lakota County's 49.84 and offering residents substantially safer conditions than western South Dakota neighbors. The northeast location provides natural protection from wildfire and flood exposure concentrations.

Wildfire represents only modest threat

Wildfire risk of 56.62 constitutes Potter County's primary hazard concern, though it remains moderate compared to western counties. Tornado risk of 17.94 and flood risk of 14.63 present minimal concerns, while earthquake risk is negligible.

Basic coverage meets your needs

Potter County residents benefit from exceptional low-risk exposure, making standard homeowners insurance adequate for most properties without specialized additions. Maintain annual policy reviews and ensure replacement-cost coverage aligns with current home values, but extensive disaster preparation investments are unnecessary.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.