County profile · South Dakota
Hughes County, SD market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Hughes County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 17,570
- −0.9% since 2020
- Households
- 7,253
- Median household income
- $81,395
- +25.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $242,000
- Jobs located here
- 10,890
- Highest market score
- 66
- Pizza, #447 of 2,090 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Hughes County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Hughes County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 17,570 people live in Hughes County, in 7,253 households. Population estimates show Hughes County declined 0.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Hughes County is $81,395 a year, in line with the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 25.6% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Hughes County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 114, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (72).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Hughes County are for pizza places (66), bakeries and dessert shops (63) and grocery and convenience stores (59). Hughes County ranks #447 of 2,090 scored counties for pizza places.
Hughes County is part of the Pierre area. For its number of households, Hughes County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for primary care and pediatric clinics (2.9 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (32% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Hughes County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Hughes County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pizza | 66 | #447 of 2,090 | 5 | 6.9 | $5.8M | 113 | 11 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 63 | #445 of 1,889 | 5 | 6.9 | $5.8M | 139 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 59 | #826 of 2,402 | 13 | 17.9 | $3.4M | 101 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 57 | #801 of 2,339 | 12 | 16.5 | $611K | 142 | 5 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 57 | #865 of 2,222 | 10 | 13.8 | $2.9M | 94 | 11 |
| Spas and skin care | 56 | #661 of 1,769 | 6 | 8.3 | $1.2M | 139 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 53 | #1,018 of 2,261 | 7 | 9.7 | $6.3M | 80 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 51 | #1,089 of 2,385 | 25 | 34.5 | $293K | 138 | 8 |
| Real estate | 49 | #1,144 of 2,229 | 19 | 26.2 | Index only | 126 | 4 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 49 | #1,237 of 2,405 | 77 | 106.2 | $374K | 101 | 29 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 46 | #1,001 of 1,656 | 15 | 20.7 | $702K | 39 | 4 |
| Pet businesses | 43 | #1,379 of 2,200 | 8 | 11.0 | $783K | 89 | 7 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 43 | #1,401 of 2,210 | 23 | 31.7 | $630K | 72 | 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 43 | #1,488 of 2,405 | 40 | 55.1 | $720K | 109 | 16 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 41 | #1,347 of 2,063 | 9 | 12.4 | $3.2M | 86 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 41 | #1,382 of 2,087 | 18 | 24.8 | $806K | 63 | 3 |
| Physical therapy | 40 | #995 of 1,422 | 6 | 8.3 | $1.8M | 73 | 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 40 | #1,591 of 2,176 | 18 | 24.8 | Index only | 105 | 4 |
| Auto repair shops | 40 | #1,652 of 2,378 | 19 | 26.2 | $418K | 94 | 10 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 36 | #1,848 of 2,394 | 69 | 95.1 | $153K | 100 | 27 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 32 | #1,107 of 1,334 | 5 | 6.9 | $1.3M | 66 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 32 | #1,178 of 1,451 | 5 | 6.9 | $1.6M | 63 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 32 | #1,582 of 1,886 | 11 | 15.2 | $958K | 97 | 15 |
| Auto repair and car care | 32 | #1,957 of 2,401 | 37 | 51.0 | $215K | 80 | 14 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 31 | #1,766 of 2,088 | 16 | 22.1 | $417K | 63 | 4 |
| Chiropractors | 29 | #1,304 of 1,490 | 7 | 9.7 | $1.5M | 63 | 5 |
| Gyms | 28 | #1,535 of 1,792 | 8 | 11.0 | $834K | 64 | 4 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 27 | #1,162 of 1,327 | 5 | 6.9 | $1.6M | 52 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 23 | #1,445 of 1,611 | 8 | 11.0 | $379K | 38 | 5 |
| Gas stations | 22 | #2,184 of 2,358 | 17 | 23.4 | $1.2M | 49 | 12 |
| Home repair trades | 18 | #2,023 of 2,057 | 20 | 27.6 | $1M | 41 | 24 |
| Roofing and gutters | 17 | #1,135 of 1,177 | 7 | 9.7 | $2.9M | 34 | 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 17 | #1,677 of 1,707 | 10 | 13.8 | $2M | 42 | 13 |
| Insurance agencies | 8 | #2,263 of 2,272 | 24 | 33.1 | $507K | 40 | 19 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.5 | $1.8M | 110 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.5 | $2M | 79 | 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.5 | $1.6M | 58 | 4 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.1 | $2.4M | 130 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.1 | $6.7M | 56 | 8 |
| Grocery stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.1 | $14.8M | 159 | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.1 | $3M | 180 | 12 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.1 | $3.5M | 112 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.1 | $2.1M | 82 | 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.1 | $2.2M | 55 | 4 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.8 | $518K | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.8 | $7.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | $9.1M | Too few | 7 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | $9.1M | Too few | 5 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | $9.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | $6.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | $10.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Hughes County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $7.9M | $1,096 | 114 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $20.1M | $2,767 | 107 |
| Food away from home | $28.8M | $3,973 | 98 |
| Groceries | $44.4M | $6,119 | 97 |
| Personal care products and services | $7.3M | $1,011 | 101 |
| Child care and other personal services | $3M | $418 | 72 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $6.7M | $920 | 94 |
| Medical and dental services | $10.5M | $1,452 | 113 |
| Pets | $6.3M | $864 | 95 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $14.5M | $1,999 | 97 |
| Vehicle insurance | $12.2M | $1,677 | 86 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $20.1M | $2,769 | 92 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $9.1M | $1,251 | 88 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $103.3M | $14,248 | 86 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Hughes County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 17,570−0.9% since 2020
- Households
- 7,253
- Median age
- 40.6
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 72%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 742 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 24
- Median household income
- $81,395+25.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $99,105
- Median home value
- $242,000
- Jobs located here
- 10,890
- Daytime population
- 19,525Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Hughes County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Hughes County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in South Dakota 8
- Stanley County, SD3,015 people
- Sully County, SD1,526 people
- Jones County, SD1,004 people
- Hyde County, SD1,191 people
- Lyman County, SD3,724 people
- Potter County, SD2,388 people
- Buffalo County, SD1,808 people
- Mellette County, SD1,943 people
Questions
How fast is Hughes County, SD growing?
Population estimates put Hughes County at 17,570 people in 2025, down 0.9% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 7,253 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 25.6%, before inflation.
How much do households in Hughes County, SD spend?
Households in Hughes County spend about $103.3M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $44.4M on groceries and $28.8M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Hughes County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 114, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (72).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Hughes County, SD?
Of the business types scored in Hughes County, pizza places (66), bakeries and dessert shops (63) and grocery and convenience stores (59) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For pizza places, that ranks #447 of 2,090 scored counties.
How does Hughes County, SD compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Hughes County is $81,395, in line with the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 0.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $242,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for primary care and pediatric clinics (2.9 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (32% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 34 of the 56 business types have a score in Hughes County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Hughes County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in South Dakota · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Hughes County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Hughes County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.