COMPARING TWO PLACES
Balaton vs Brookings
PLACE A
Balaton, Minnesota
VS
PLACE B
Brookings, South Dakota
Balaton is 98% smaller than Brookings. Brookings earns more, with a median household income $8,805 higher. Brookings has grown faster since 2000 (6% vs -7%).
BALATONBROOKINGSDIFFERENCE
Total population57825,355−98% vs Brookings
Population density3981,817−1,418
Population growth-7.5%6.0%−13.5 pts
Median age48.624.7+23.9
Male54.1%50.2%+3.8 pts
Female45.9%49.8%−3.8 pts
Foreign-born1.8%7.4%−5.6 pts
White, non-Hispanic92.6%86.2%+6.3 pts
Black0.0%1.2%−1.2 pts
Hispanic / Latino0.0%4.2%−4.2 pts
Asian0.0%4.6%−4.6 pts
Other7.4%3.8%+3.6 pts
Median household income$54,688$63,493−$8,805
Per capita income$33,950$32,470+$1,480
Poverty rate17.7%16.9%+0.8 pts
Income inequality (Gini)0.4270.428Even
Bachelor's degree or higher15.4%47.5%−32.1 pts
Graduate degree3.1%17.3%−14.2 pts
Unemployment rate3.3%4.5%−1.2 pts
Labor force participation64.3%68.5%−4.2 pts
Median home value$94,000$265,500−$171,500
Median gross rent$1,138$889+$249
Owner-occupied74.9%47.7%+27.2 pts
Housing vacancy rate7.2%8.4%−1.2 pts
Rent-burdened households36.9%39.2%−2.3 pts
Average commute27.512.5+15.0
Worked from home11.3%10.4%+0.8 pts
Public transit to work0.0%0.5%−0.5 pts
Uninsured7.0%5.5%+1.5 pts
Population, 1990 – 2025