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CITY

Brookings

South Dakota · 25,355 residents (2025 est.) · 13.956 sq mi
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The short version

Brookings has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $63,493. Population has grown 29% since 2000. 47% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $265,500. At a median age of 24.7, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. 47% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, well above the US average, yet household income trails the national figure — a profile common to graduate-student tracts and academic hubs.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 24.7
US median: 38.9
More educated
47% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 62%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
23,948
+29%since 2000
from 18,504 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,716 / sq mi
+29%since 2000
from 1,326 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
24.7
+5%since 2000
from 23.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:25,355 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
15K18K20K23K25K1990201020202024Brookings
202424K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$63,493
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,266 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,470
+91%since 2000
from $17,028 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
41.7%
+23.5 ptssince 2009
from 18.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2000
from 18.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.428
−4%since 2010
from 0.445 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade19.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services4.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction3.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration3.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade3.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance2.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Arts, entertainment, food2%
US avg: 1.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$265,500
+62%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $89,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$889
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $393 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
47.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 46.4% in 2000
52.3% rent
Vacancy rate
8.4%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
39.2%
−11.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.2
+46%since 2000
from 2.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
55
RELATED:See current rent listings in Brookings on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.1%(17,598)
Black0.4%(79)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(139)
Asian1.9%(347)
Other0%
Diversity Score7.6%(1,406)
2024
White, non-Hispanic86.2%(20,646)
Black1.2%(293)
Hispanic / Latino4.2%(999)
Asian4.6%(1,096)
Other3.8%(914)
Diversity Score31.4%(7,523)
Diversity Score
31
+313%since 2000
from 8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
47.5%
+9.5 ptssince 2000
from 37.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
97.5%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 91.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
17.3%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 15.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
12.5 min
+20%since 2000
from 10.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.8%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 73.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.4%
+8.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.8%
−5.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.5%
−1.0 ptssince 2011
from 5.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
68.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 69.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.5%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
43.2%
−23.2 ptssince 2009
from 66.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Female
49.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Foreign born
7.4%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.8%
−46.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
9.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2012
from 9.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.5%
−85.5 ptssince 2013
from 91.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.1%
+9.4 ptssince 2017
from 81.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
88.6%
−3.5 ptssince 2016
from 92.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.4%
+1.4 ptssince 2016
from 1.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Brookings to nearby cities

BROOKINGS VS
Watertown
Income$69,600+10%
Home value$229,400−14%
Population23,736−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BROOKINGS VS
Brandon
Income$110,806+75%
Home value$336,600+27%
Population11,306−55%
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BROOKINGS VS
Marshall
Income$68,566+8%
Home value$210,300−21%
Population14,171−44%
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BROOKINGS VS
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Income$75,970+20%
Home value$292,400+10%
Population213,748+743%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Brookings, South Dakota?

Brookings, South Dakota has about 23,948 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Brookings, South Dakota?

The typical household in Brookings, South Dakota earns about $63,493 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Brookings, South Dakota expensive?

In Brookings, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $265,500, and the typical rent is about $889 a month.

How educated are people in Brookings, South Dakota?

About 47.5% of adults age 25 and over in Brookings, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Brookings, South Dakota?

About 16.9% of people in Brookings, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Brookings, South Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Brookings, South Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 7,678 residents, a change of about 47 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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