Aurora County Income Charts

This section shows the Aurora County South Dakota economy using the most recent economic analysis from the 2022 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker, Aurora County depicts it has a Median earnings of $47,750 which is the third most of all other counties in the local area. The county with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Jerauld County which indicates a median earnings of $51,619 (8.1% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $53,269, Aurora County is about 11.6% smaller. Also, in comparison with the state of South Dakota, median earnings per worker of $46,456, Aurora County is only about 2.8% larger.

In Figure 2 a more complete view of income is shown which aggregates income from all members in the household and it has a Median household income of $64,960 which is the second most median income of all the counties in the greater Aurora County region. The county with the highest median household income in the area is Douglas County which depicts a median income of $66,750 (only about 2.8% larger). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $69,021, Aurora County is about 6.3% smaller. Also, in contrast to the state of South Dakota, median household income of $63,920, Aurora County is only slightly larger.

Figure 5 has the Average number of hours worked in a typical work week during the year, it has a Avg Hours Worked of 42.3 which is the highest of all counties in the greater Aurora County region. Dividing median annual worker earnings by the average number of hours worked in a year in Figure 6 shows that it has a Avg Hrly Earnings of $21.71 which is in the center range of other counties in the local area. The county with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Jerauld County which shows an average hourly earnings of $23.75 (9.4% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $26.40, Aurora County is about 21.6% smaller. Also, measured against the state of South Dakota, average hourly earnings of $22.56, Aurora County is only about 3.9% smaller.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Aurora County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Aurora County shows it has a Self Employed of 29.0% which is the highest of all counties in the greater Aurora County region.

Turning our attention to Figure 8, the median household income by age group, it has the largest proportion of median income-under 25 years at $86,111 of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has less than most other counties in the metro area in terms of median income-25 to 44 years at $68,068 of the total. Third, it has less than most other counties in the local area when ranked by median income-45 to 64 years at $40,481 of the total.

Figure 9 breaks down the source of income and Aurora County has the largest proportion of income from wages at 25.3% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the smallest proportion of self employment income at 9.0% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of investment and retirement income at 5.1% of the total.

The next chart (Figure 11) shows the percentage of households that had retirement income over the last 12 months and it has a With Retirement Income of 13.1% which is the second smallest in terms of households with retirement income of all the other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Jerauld County which depicts a households with retirement income of 20.0% (52.5% larger).

In the next chart, Figure 12, the median family income is shown for families broken down by racial group and has the percentage of overall family income less than most other counties in the local area at $79,318 of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of hawaiian family income at $64,792 of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Brule County with $141,328.

Figure 13 shows the cost of living and other consumer spending categories for a variety of cost components from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Aurora County depicts it has the hightest cost of 102.2 for the cost of healthcare group.

Aurora County Labor Force Charts

The next two charts look at very recent, monthly trended employment related performance using data estimated by economists at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS tracks unemployment statistics for a large number of areas throughout the country on a month to month basis. However, not every location in the U.S. is tracked by the BLS so the chart will only show the closest location available (which may be the same location.) Figure 14 shows the monthly unemployment rate for the area as well as a comparison to the overall national economy measure for the United States. Note that in March to April 2020, the Covid 19 recession or great recession occurred and affects this metric. . It depicts that from February 2010 to before the disasterous Covid-19 virus Pandemic the monthly unemployment rate went from 4.2% to 2.3% in February 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 45.2%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 2.1% This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 8.7%. In Figure 15 the monthly labor force participation which are people actively looking for work are also defined as unemployed but do not include people who have given up looking for work. . It depicts that from February 2010 to before the disasterous Covid-19 virus Pandemic the monthly labor force participation went from 1,634 to 1,472 in March 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 9.9%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 1,501 This represents an increase in the monthly labor force participation of very little.

The next two charts look at the annual unemployment rate/eligible for unemployment benefits and is based on the American Community survey. Figure 16 shows Aurora County shows it has a Unemployment Rate of 0.2% which is the second smallest in order of unemployment rate of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest unemployment rate in the area is Charles Mix County which depicts a rate of 5.2% ( substantially bigger). Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Aurora County shows it has a Labor Force Participation of 72.9% which is the second most of all the counties in the greater region.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. Aurora County shows full time employees very much bigger as the part time employees.

The next employment related data item is shown in Figure 21 which is the percentage of families with only a single earner in the greater Aurora County area. Aurora County depicts it has a Single Earner Families of 14.4% which is the smallest when sorted by families with a single earner of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Jerauld County which shows a single earners rate of 25.9% (about twice as large). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Aurora County shows it has a Families with No One Working of 9.8% which is the smallest in terms of families with no one working of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest families with no one working in the area is Davison County which depicts a families with no worker of 15.4% (57.8% larger).

Aurora County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Aurora County community. This performance can be enhanced by government programs such as economic opportunity zone to influence manufacturing, job growth, economic opportunity an hopefully lead to economic recovery after the recent Covid 19 recession. In Figure 23 the total number of people earning less than the poverty level are shown. Aurora County depicts it has a Total In Poverty of 180 which is the second smallest when sorted by total people earning less than the poverty level of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Davison County which shows a total people earning less than the poverty level of 2,715 ( very much bigger).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Aurora County depicts it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 7.2% which is the smallest when sorted by percent of people earning less than the poverty level of all the other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest percent of people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Charles Mix County which shows a percent of people in poverty of 23.6% (approximately 3.3 times bigger).

In Figure 25 people who are in poverty are broken out by age group. Aurora County has the largest proportion of person in poverty under 12 years at 17% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has less than most other counties in the local area in terms of person in poverty 12 to 17 years at 15% of the total. Third, it has the largest proportion of person in poverty 35 to 54 years at 26% of the total and is ranked #1.

The next chart, Figure 26, shows the percentage of people in poverty by racial group. Aurora County has the percentage of black poverty rate in the center range of other counties in the area at 30% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of hawaiian poverty rate at 11% of the total.

Figure 27 shows key poverty statistics for groups based on marriage status. Aurora County has the smallest proportion of married with children and in poverty at 20% of the total. Second, it has the second smallest when ranked by married with children and in poverty of all the other counties in the greater region when ranked by unmarried with children and in poverty at 19% of the total.

The next chart looks at the percentage of people in poverty based on their education level in Figure 28 marriage status. Aurora County has the smallest proportion of highschool graduate and in poverty at 4% of the total. Figure 29 looks at only those people who make less than the poverty level of income and breaks down there employment status. Aurora County has the largest proportion of people who are in poverty and unemployed at 20.0% of the total and is ranked #1. Additionally, Figure 30 looks at the percentage of people who receive some form of public assistance including general assistance, temporary assistance or food stamps (i.e. SNAP.) Aurora County shows it has a Public Assistance Percent of 6.4% which is less than most other counties in the local area. The county with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Charles Mix County which depicts a households with public assistance of 15.2% (approximately 2.4 times bigger).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Aurora County depicts it has a Gini Index of 46.0% which is the third most the gini index of all other counties in the greater Aurora County region.

Aurora County Work Commute Charts

The following set of charts detail a variety of metrics that have economic impact, economic grow factors and economic development metrics in the Aurora County community and has an impact on other factors such as economic growth, population growth, economic recovery, job growth, etc.. Figure 32 shows a high level view of how the population commutes to work (including the percent of people who work from home.) Aurora County has the smallest proportion of people who take public transportation to work at 3% of the total. Figure 33 shows a more detailed view of how the population commutes to work for (for example to downtown Aurora County or elsewhere.) Aurora County has the smallest proportion of people who took a taxicab, motorcycle or other at 0% of the total.

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. Aurora County has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 12am to 5am at 4% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 5am to 530am at 1% of the total. Third, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 530 am to 6am at 12% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 6am to 630am at 6% of the total. In addition, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 7am to 730am at 21% of the total.

The next graph in Figure 36 shows the average number of minutes that it takes for people to commute to work. Aurora County has the smallest proportion of people with commute time of less than 5 minutesutes at 19% of the total. Second, it has in the middle range of other counties in the metropolitan area when ranked by people with commute time between 5 to 9 minutes at 12% of the total.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. Aurora County depicts it has a Avg Commute Time of 18 which is the second most of all the counties in the surrounding region. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Aurora County depicts average commute time in minutes for men 30.3% larger as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and Aurora County has the percentage of 1 vehicle available the second smallest in terms of no vehicle available of all the other counties in the local area at 31% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of 3 vehicles available at 10% of the total. Third, it has one of the largest proportions of 4 vehicles available at 13% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Douglas County with 17%. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) Aurora County shows it has a Work in city or place where live of 31% which is the smallest as measured by people who both work and live in the same city of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest people who both work and live in the same city in the area is Davison County which depicts a people who both work and live in the same city of 79% (approximately 2.5 times bigger). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 44%, Aurora County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, compared to the state of South Dakota, people who both work and live in the same city of 68%, Aurora County is approximately half the size.

Aurora County Jobs Charts

The next to charts break out the median earnings for major job categories for men and women. Figure 46 shows the median earnings of men for the job categories. Aurora County depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $85,972 for the earnings-computer, engineering, and science occupations classification. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Aurora County depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $59,583 for the earnings-healthcare practitioners and tech occupations grouping. The table in Figure 48, shows Aurora County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Aurora County Self Employment Charts

Figure 49 shows economic activity in terms of the number of people who are self employed in incorporated local business by industry. Aurora County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 65% for the self employed management, business, science, and arts businesses aggregate.

Similar to the last chart is Figure 50 which shows the number of people who are self employed but in more detailed industry categories such as manufacturing, retail sales, residential real estate, commercial real estate, health care, exports/imports, and advanced industries, etc. Aurora County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 48% for the self employed in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining aggregate.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. Aurora County shows it has a Self Employment Income of $79,251 which is the second most average annual self employment income of all the counties in the greater Aurora County region. The county with the highest average annual self employment income in the area is Jerauld County which depicts an average annual self employment income of $79,689 ( about the same size). Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $42,141, Aurora County is about twice as large. Also, compared with the state of South Dakota, average annual self employment income of $40,950, Aurora County is about twice as large.

Figure 52 shows the difference between the number of self employed men and self employed women (i.e. entrepreneurs.) Aurora County shows total number of self-employed men approximately 3.9 times bigger as the total number of self-employed women.