CountyScore

Walworth County

South Dakota · SD

#60 in South Dakota
66.4
County Score

County Report Card

About Walworth County, South Dakota

Walworth County meets national baseline

Walworth County's composite score of 66.4 ranks it about 33 percent above the national median of 50.0, indicating solid but unremarkable livability. The score reflects a county with modest strengths and notable constraints across multiple dimensions.

Below South Dakota state average

Walworth County scores 66.4 versus South Dakota's state average of 71.3, placing it in the lower half of the state's county rankings. The gap suggests Walworth faces more livability challenges than typical South Dakota counties.

Affordable housing and accessible taxes

Walworth County's cost score of 78.6 supports home values of $130,000 and rents at $962, providing reasonable housing accessibility. The tax score of 61.9 with an effective rate of 1.435% is moderate compared to peer counties.

Income and natural hazard vulnerabilities

The income score of 24.3 reflects median household earnings of only $62,722, constraining economic opportunity and quality of life. Risk score of 60.5 is the lowest among these eight counties, indicating notable exposure to natural disasters or environmental hazards.

Consider alternatives before moving

Walworth County suits only cost-focused households with minimal livelihood concerns; livability fundamentals are below state standards. Families with incomes or long-term stability goals should explore higher-scoring South Dakota counties.

Score breakdown

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

Tax61.9Cost78.6SafetyComing SoonHealth70.5SchoolsComing SoonIncome24.3Risk60.5WaterComing Soon
🏛61.9
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠78.6
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼24.3
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤70.5
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡60.5
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 Walworth County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Columbia County
Florida
66.4
Median income: $55,070
Madison County
Florida
66.4
Median income: $48,176
Ben Hill County
Georgia
66.4
Median income: $39,081
Jackson County
Georgia
66.4
Median income: $85,012
Miller County
Georgia
66.4
Median income: $58,407

Deep Dives

Walworth County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Walworth County

via TaxByCounty

Walworth's rate exceeds national median

Walworth County's 1.435% effective rate sits above the national median of 1.56%, positioning it in the nation's higher-tax tier. The median property tax of $1,866 falls short of the national median of $2,690, reflecting Walworth's moderate home values despite its elevated rate.

Walworth ranks among state's highest

Walworth's 1.435% rate significantly exceeds South Dakota's state average of 1.094%, placing it among the state's more heavily taxed counties. The median tax of $1,866 surpasses the state average of $1,785, driven by Walworth's above-average effective rate.

Walworth taxes heavily versus peers

Walworth's 1.435% rate trails only Stanley County's 1.426%, vastly exceeding Sully (0.854%), Tripp (0.902%), and Turner (1.041%) in the surrounding region. Among neighboring counties, Walworth represents the second-heaviest tax burden, beaten only by Stanley.

Median Walworth home: $1,866 yearly tax

A typical Walworth County home valued at $130,000 generates $1,866 in annual property taxes at the current rate. Including mortgage adjustments, total tax liability reaches $2,299—among the region's highest burdens relative to home values.

Assessment appeals combat high rates

Walworth County residents facing elevated effective rates should prioritize assessment appeals to challenge potential overvaluations. Properties in high-rate jurisdictions like Walworth benefit most from successful appeals, where rate compounds multiply savings from even modest assessment reductions.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Walworth County

via CostByCounty

Walworth County faces severe rental strain

At 18.4%, Walworth County's rent-to-income ratio stands well above the South Dakota state average of 13.8%, signaling acute housing affordability challenges. With median household income at $62,722 and median rent reaching $962 monthly, renters spend nearly one dollar in every five on housing—a burden that exceeds national affordability thresholds.

South Dakota's most strained rental market

Walworth County ranks among the least affordable counties in South Dakota for renters, with a rent-to-income ratio substantially above the state average. The combination of below-average household incomes and above-average rents creates one of the state's most challenging housing affordability situations.

Walworth rents lead the region

Walworth County's median rent of $962 is the second-highest in this group after Union County ($1,055), yet household income of $62,722 ranks near the region's bottom. This mismatch—high costs, moderate incomes—makes Walworth among the least affordable counties in the region.

Housing dominates household spending

Renters in Walworth allocate a concerning 18.4% of income to housing, while homeowners spend roughly 15.5% on ownership costs ($811 against $62,722 income). Both renting and buying strain household budgets more severely in Walworth than in most surrounding counties.

Walworth County requires strong earnings

Walworth County's high rent-to-income ratio and elevated housing costs make it a challenging destination for budget-conscious relocators. Prospective movers should secure employment paying well above the county median of $62,722 to ensure housing affordability—or compare alternatives in neighboring counties with lower cost burdens.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Walworth County

via IncomeByCounty

Walworth lags behind U.S. income

Walworth County's median household income of $62,722 trails the U.S. median of $74,755 by 16%, placing it among the nation's lower-income rural counties. Per capita income of $37,717 runs about 7% above the national average, suggesting income concentration among fewer earners.

Below-average earner in South Dakota

Walworth County's median household income runs 6% below South Dakota's state average of $66,926, ranking it in the lower third of counties statewide. This underperformance reflects Walworth's limited economic diversity and dependence on agriculture and small-scale enterprise.

Walworth struggles among peers

Walworth's $62,722 income ranks sixth among the eight counties examined, outpacing only Todd ($39,148) and Tripp ($58,854) while falling well short of Stanley ($77,000) and Union ($84,137). This position signals Walworth's economic vulnerability within the region.

Housing affordability becomes critical

Walworth's rent-to-income ratio of 18.4% represents the state's highest burden, consuming nearly one-fifth of household earnings on housing costs despite a modest median home value of $130,000. This strain suggests many Walworth families must make difficult trade-offs between housing and other essential expenses.

Walworth needs economic diversification

Households earning $62,722 with housing consuming 18% of income have limited surplus for savings or investment; Walworth residents must focus first on cost reduction and income growth. Explore skills training, remote work opportunities, and local business development to break free from housing affordability pressures.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Walworth County

via HealthByCounty

Walworth's longevity slightly below national norm

At 76.9 years, Walworth County's life expectancy trails the U.S. average by about one year. Nearly 15.2% report poor or fair health, modestly higher than national benchmarks.

In line with South Dakota's health profile

Walworth's life expectancy of 76.9 years is 1.5 years above South Dakota's 75.4-year average. The county performs slightly better than the state overall, though challenges remain.

Best-resourced primary care in the region

Walworth boasts 114 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—the highest in this group. Mental health providers number 209 per 100K, also well above regional averages.

Uninsured rate above state average

Walworth's uninsured rate of 12.3% exceeds South Dakota's 11.1%, meaning coverage gaps affect more residents than in most state counties. Abundant providers offer potential, but insurance barriers may prevent access for some.

Close coverage gaps in Walworth

With 12.3% uninsured, Walworth County has room to improve. Visit Healthcare.gov to explore your options and ensure your family can access the county's strong provider network.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Walworth County

via RiskByCounty

Walworth County faces elevated disaster risks

Walworth County scores 39.50 on the composite risk scale, substantially above the national average and ranked as Very Low. This represents one of the higher-risk profiles in the county's region.

Walworth is South Dakota's riskiest profiled county

At 39.50, Walworth County ranks highest among the eight counties profiled and exceeds the state average of 26.84 by nearly 50 percent. It faces the most complex and compounded natural disaster exposure in this group.

Walworth leads the high-risk corridor

Walworth County's 39.50 surpasses all peer counties in this analysis, including Union (37.12), Todd (36.61), and Tripp (36.45). It represents the highest-risk area in a zone of elevated hazard exposure.

Wildfire and flood risks reign supreme

Wildfire risk leads at 80.69, with substantial flood exposure at 34.76 and moderate tornado risk (27.67) completing the hazard profile. Residents face particular vulnerability to fire and water-related disasters.

Build robust, layered insurance protection

Walworth County homeowners should invest in comprehensive coverage for fire, flood, wind, and hail—ideally through both standard and supplemental policies. Annual policy reviews and property improvements focused on fire mitigation are essential in this high-risk environment.

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.