County profile · South Dakota
Meade County, SD market data
How Meade County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 30,711
- +2.7% since 2020
- Households
- 11,968
- Median household income
- $74,790
- +23.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $310,900
- Jobs located here
- 7,923
- Highest market score
- 83
- Fast food and sandwich shops, #86 of 2,222 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Meade County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Meade 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
Meade County has an estimated 30,711 people and 11,968 households. Population estimates put the population change in Meade County from 2020 to 2025 at +2.7%, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Meade County is $74,790, 7% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 23.5%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Meade County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 138, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (68).
Of the business types scored in Meade County, fast food and sandwich shops (83); medical and dental practices (82); and salons, barbers and spas (80) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For fast food and sandwich shops, that ranks #86 of 2,222 scored counties.
Meade County is part of the Rapid City metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for roofing and gutter companies (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (66% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Meade County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Meade 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 83 | #86 of 2,222 | 9 | 7.5 | $5.2M | 169 | 13 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 82 | #74 of 2,394 | 34 | 28.4 | $496K | 326 | 17 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 80 | #65 of 2,385 | 25 | 20.9 | $477K | 224 | 6 |
| Hair salons | 79 | #92 of 2,339 | 17 | 14.2 | $701K | 163 | 4 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 79 | #147 of 2,405 | 44 | 36.8 | $1.1M | 159 | 13 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 79 | #170 of 2,087 | 9 | 7.5 | $2.6M | 205 | 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 76 | #218 of 2,210 | 16 | 13.4 | $1.5M | 167 | 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 75 | #249 of 2,405 | 99 | 82.7 | $469K | 127 | 32 |
| Chiropractors | 74 | #158 of 1,490 | 5 | 4.2 | $3.4M | 141 | 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 74 | #329 of 2,402 | 21 | 17.5 | $3.5M | 102 | 5 |
| Grocery stores | 71 | #365 of 2,070 | 5 | 4.2 | $14.6M | 157 | 5 |
| Pizza | 70 | #321 of 2,090 | 10 | 8.4 | $4.6M | 91 | 13 |
| Gas stations | 68 | #460 of 2,358 | 15 | 12.5 | $2.7M | 112 | 16 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 67 | #351 of 2,088 | 14 | 11.7 | $742K | 112 | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 67 | #382 of 2,063 | 9 | 7.5 | $5.2M | 139 | 6 |
| Auto repair shops | 64 | #549 of 2,378 | 24 | 20.1 | $659K | 148 | 24 |
| Auto repair and car care | 59 | #785 of 2,401 | 52 | 43.4 | $304K | 113 | 27 |
| Car washes and detailing | 58 | #530 of 1,451 | 8 | 6.7 | $2M | 78 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 58 | #839 of 2,261 | 13 | 10.9 | $5.6M | 71 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 57 | #869 of 2,272 | 13 | 10.9 | $1.9M | 149 | 12 |
| Gyms | 53 | #817 of 1,792 | 10 | 8.4 | $1M | 80 | Under 3 |
| Real estate | 48 | #1,171 of 2,229 | 24 | 20.1 | Index only | 162 | 23 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 46 | #761 of 1,327 | 6 | 5.0 | $2.6M | 85 | 8 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 44 | #1,367 of 2,176 | 20 | 16.7 | Index only | 154 | 19 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 41 | #1,163 of 1,707 | 8 | 6.7 | $4.1M | 86 | 20 |
| Child care and preschools | 37 | #1,166 of 1,611 | 7 | 5.8 | $673K | 67 | 9 |
| Pet businesses | 37 | #1,644 of 2,200 | 18 | 15.0 | $560K | 64 | 11 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 36 | #1,375 of 1,771 | 11 | 9.2 | $1.3M | 80 | 24 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 35 | #1,145 of 1,493 | 7 | 5.8 | $2.1M | 72 | 19 |
| Electricians | 29 | #1,008 of 1,160 | 7 | 5.8 | $4.7M | 39 | 11 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 29 | #1,215 of 1,461 | 8 | 6.7 | $1.3M | 50 | 5 |
| Home repair trades | 27 | #1,908 of 2,057 | 25 | 20.9 | $1.3M | 54 | 35 |
| Roofing and gutters | 26 | #1,060 of 1,177 | 10 | 8.4 | $3.3M | 39 | 4 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.3 | $4.2M | 429 | 4 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.3 | $3M | 340 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.3 | $2.5M | 93 | 6 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $15.5M | 374 | 6 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $3.5M | 172 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $5.3M | 210 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.7 | $6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.7 | $766K | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.7 | $7.4M | Too few | 5 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.7 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.7 | $7.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.7 | $8.4M | Too few | 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.7 | $8.4M | Too few | 7 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.7 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $23.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $11.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $15.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $16.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $10.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $10.4M | 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 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Meade 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 | $15.8M | $1,321 | 138 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $40M | $3,346 | 129 |
| Food away from home | $46.5M | $3,883 | 95 |
| Groceries | $72.8M | $6,083 | 96 |
| Personal care products and services | $11.9M | $995 | 99 |
| Child care and other personal services | $4.7M | $393 | 68 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $10.4M | $868 | 88 |
| Medical and dental services | $16.9M | $1,410 | 109 |
| Pets | $10.1M | $842 | 93 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $23.5M | $1,960 | 95 |
| Vehicle insurance | $24.3M | $2,033 | 104 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $32.8M | $2,742 | 91 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $14.8M | $1,236 | 87 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $168.3M | $14,067 | 84 |
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 Meade County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 30,711+2.7% since 2020
- Households
- 11,968
- Median age
- 40.4
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 73%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.3
- Land area
- 3,471 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 9
- Median household income
- $74,790+23.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $94,155
- Median home value
- $310,900
- Jobs located here
- 7,923
- Daytime population
- 24,809Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Meade 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 Meade County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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- Custer County, SD8,892 people
- Fall River County, SD7,258 people
- Haakon County, SD1,722 people
- Oglala Lakota County, SD13,491 people
- Jackson County, SD2,802 people
Questions
How fast is Meade County, SD growing?
Population estimates put Meade County at 30,711 people in 2025, up 2.7% since 2020, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 11,968 households. Median household income rose 23.5% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Meade County, SD spend?
Households in Meade County spend about $168.3M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $72.8M on groceries and $46.5M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Meade County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 138, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (68).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Meade County, SD?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Meade County are for fast food and sandwich shops (83); medical and dental practices (82); and salons, barbers and spas (80). Meade County ranks #86 of 2,222 scored counties for fast food and sandwich shops.
How does Meade County, SD compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Meade County is $74,790 a year, 7% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 2.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $310,900, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Meade County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for roofing and gutter companies (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (66% 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. 33 of the 56 business types have a score in Meade 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 Meade 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.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Meade 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 Meade 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.