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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Brookings

South Dakota · 16,270 residents · 14.0 sq mi
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The short version

Brookings is a city of 16,270 people in South Dakota. The median age is 23.8, younger than the US median of 33.0. 35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 20% nationally. Owners hold 48% of the housing stock. The average commute runs 11 minutes. 22.8% of locals live below the federal poverty line.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Younger
median age 23.8
US median: 33.0
More educated
35% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 18%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

16,270
−12%vs 2000
vs 18,504 in 2000
1990 – 2025
23.8
+1%vs 2000
vs 23.5 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Land area
14.0 sq mi
Population, 19902024
15K18K20K23K25K19902000201020202024Brookings
202424K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 55.4%(873)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 96.2%(1,007)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 144.4%(714)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 1913.9%(2,264)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 2424.1%(3,916)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3414%(2,282)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4410.4%(1,699)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 545.9%(960)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 645.2%(845)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 745.2%(844)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 843.4%(555)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.9%(311)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$20,184
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $31,266 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
$9,723
−43%vs 2000
vs $17,028 in 2000
US average: $14,340
22.8%
+4.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 18.5% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

$55,600
−18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $89,800 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
$301
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $393 in 2000
US average: $450
48.4%
+1.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 46.4% in 2000
51.6% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.1%(17,598)
Black0.4%(79)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(139)
Asian1.9%(347)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic96.9%(15,766)
Black0.3%(42)
Hispanic / Latino0.3%(45)
Asian1.7%(279)
Other1.1%(183)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.4%(338)
Colombian0.4%(92)
Chilean0.2%(41)
Honduran0.1%(27)
Asian origin
Asian Indian1.9%(448)
Chinese1.1%(273)
Nepalese0.9%(207)
Filipino0.4%(88)
Japanese0.2%(42)
Korean0.1%(22)
Hmong0%(1)
Burmese0%(1)
Ancestry
German36.9%(8,832)
Norwegian11.4%(2,729)
Irish10.2%(2,454)
English8.5%(2,025)
Dutch4.9%(1,169)
Polish1.8%(429)
Swedish1.5%(368)
Danish1.4%(344)
Czech1.4%(328)
Slovak1.3%(311)
American1.3%(303)
French1.1%(270)
+ 29 more ancestry groups with data
Italian0.9%(205)
Russian0.8%(188)
Belgian0.8%(180)
Scottish0.7%(177)
Ethiopian0.7%(159)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(104)
British0.3%(75)
Welsh0.3%(60)
Arab0.2%(58)
Lebanese0.2%(58)
Greek0.2%(55)
Brazilian0.2%(49)
Hungarian0.2%(49)
Nigerian0.2%(37)
Canadian0.1%(35)
Ukrainian0.1%(31)
Austrian0.1%(19)
Finnish0.1%(19)
Lithuanian0.1%(14)
Armenian0.1%(13)
Iranian0.1%(13)
Swiss0%(5)
Kenyan0%(4)
Section 05

Education

34.7%
−3.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 37.9% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
84.4%
−7.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 91.8% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
16.3%
+1.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 15.3% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

10.5 min
+1%vs 2000
vs 10.4 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married58.7%(6,013)
Married35.4%(3,627)
Widowed1.5%(155)
Divorced4.3%(444)
Women 15+
Never married51.2%(5,075)
Married37.3%(3,704)
Widowed4.1%(402)
Divorced7.5%(740)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

5.5%
−3.5 ptssince 2013
from 9.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
67.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2020
from 67.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
18.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2020
from 17.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
13.3%
+2.4 ptssince 2020
from 10.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
8.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
from 8.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2020
from 1.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
83.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
from 83.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
19.5%
+1.6 ptssince 2020
from 17.9% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)15.8%(117)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)10.1%(75)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era49.5%(367)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War6.2%(46)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 742 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Brookings, South Dakota?

Brookings, South Dakota has about 16,270 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in Brookings, South Dakota earns about $20,184 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 $55,600, and the typical rent is about $301 a month.

How educated are people in Brookings, South Dakota?

About 34.7% 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 22.8% of people in Brookings, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →