CensusEasy
CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Brookings

South Dakota · 18,504 residents · 14.0 sq mi
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The short version

Brookings is a city of 18,504 people in South Dakota. The median age is 23.5, younger than the US median of 35.2. Owners hold 46% of the housing stock. 38% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 24% nationally. The average commute runs 10 minutes. Median rent is $393 a month.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 23.5
US median: 35.2
More educated
38% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

18,504
+14%since 1990
from 16,270 in 1990
1990 – 2025
23.5
−1%since 1990
from 23.8 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
14.0 sq mi
Population, 19902024
15K18K20K23K25K19902000201020202024Brookings
202424K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 55.2%(959)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 94.5%(835)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 144.8%(888)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 1912.7%(2,347)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 2426.9%(4,974)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.9%(2,204)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4410.1%(1,869)
US avg: 16%
45 to 548.7%(1,619)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 645.3%(975)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 744%(748)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 843.9%(714)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over2%(372)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$31,266
+18%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $20,184 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$17,028
+75%since 1990
from $9,723 in 1990
US average: $21,522
18.5%
−4.3 ptssince 1990
from 22.8% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$89,800
+23%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $55,600 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$393
−1%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $301 in 1990
US average: $602
46.4%
−1.9 ptssince 1990
from 48.4% in 1990
53.6% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

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

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

37.9%
+3.3 ptssince 1990
from 34.7% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
91.8%
+7.3 ptssince 1990
from 84.4% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
15.3%
−1.0 ptssince 1990
from 16.3% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

10.4 min
−1%since 1990
from 10.5 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married50.9%(4,042)
Married42%(3,331)
Widowed1.9%(150)
Divorced5.2%(412)
Women 15+
Never married45.5%(3,589)
Married39.9%(3,146)
Widowed8.5%(670)
Divorced6.1%(484)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
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 18,504 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Brookings, South Dakota earns about $31,266 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 $89,800, and the typical rent is about $393 a month.

How educated are people in Brookings, South Dakota?

About 37.9% 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 18.5% 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 2,234 residents, a change of about 14 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →