With 35,353 people, Brookings County is a county in South Dakota. This skews young, with a median age of 28.0. That puts it in the top 10% of US counties for household income. People stay put here: 75% were in the same home a year ago. The average commute runs 14 minutes. Growth has run 25% since 2000, or 7,133 more people.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $70,064, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 28.0
US median: 38.9
More educated
43% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 71%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Brookings County
What changed most since 1990
Median home value (2024 dollars)$120,963 → $264,600(+119%)US over the same years: +67%
White share97.4% → 87.5%(−9.9 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Hispanic share0.3% → 4.6%(+4.2 pts)US over the same years: +9.9 pts
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)19.4%(258)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)15.6%(208)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era41.4%(551)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War6.3%(84)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 1,332 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
Over time
Brookings County, decade by decade
Brookings County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
25,207
$52,338
$120,963
27.3%
6.4
2000
28,220
$64,556
$154,476
32.2%
10.0
2010
31,965
$64,928
$198,954
37.7%
18.2
2020
34,375
$69,657
$226,772
42.2%
29.8
2024
35,353
$70,064
$264,600
42.5%
28.8
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
How many people live in Brookings County, South Dakota?
Brookings County, South Dakota has about 35,353 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Brookings County, South Dakota?
The typical household in Brookings County, South Dakota earns about $70,064 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Brookings County, South Dakota expensive?
In Brookings County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $264,600, and the typical rent is about $901 a month.
How educated are people in Brookings County, South Dakota?
About 42.5% of adults age 25 and over in Brookings County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Brookings County, South Dakota?
About 13.2% of people in Brookings County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.
Has Brookings County, South Dakota grown since 1990?
Yes, Brookings County, South Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 10,146 residents, a change of about 40 percent over that period.
