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COUNTY

Brule County

South Dakota · 5,278 residents (2025 est.) · 817.222 sq mi
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The short version

Brule County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $73,720. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $216,800. It sits in the top 10% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
29% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 93%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,283
−2%since 2000
from 5,364 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
6 / sq mi
+2%since 2009
from 6 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
41.5
+12%since 2000
from 36.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,278 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K5K5K5K6K1990201020202024Brule County
20245K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.9%(314)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.2%(275)
US avg: 6%
10 to 148.6%(455)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.9%(366)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.9%(313)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.7%(513)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.3%(597)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.9%(575)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.5%(765)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.3%(597)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.1%(375)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.6%(138)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$73,720
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,370 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,532
+146%since 2000
from $14,874 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
48.9%
+31.1 ptssince 2009
from 17.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.7%
−3.6 ptssince 2000
from 14.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.444
+30%since 2010
from 0.342 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing17%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction17%
US avg: 1.2%
Information13.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade5.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade3.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services2.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance2.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration1.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$216,800
+93%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $61,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$835
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $378 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
76.4%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 71.2% in 2000
23.6% rent
Vacancy rate
17.4%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.3%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 18.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
31.6%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 36.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.9
+54%since 2009
from 1.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
57
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Brule County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89.6%(4,807)
Black0.3%(14)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(26)
Asian0.5%(26)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic81.2%(4,289)
Black0.6%(34)
Hispanic / Latino2.3%(121)
Asian0%(0)
Other15.9%(839)
Diversity Score
39
+41%since 2009
from 28 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
20
−60%since 2020
from 48 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.6%(87)
Puerto Rican0.6%(31)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.3%(17)
Ancestry
German33.1%(1,751)
American9.7%(512)
Norwegian8.6%(453)
Czech8.1%(428)
Irish7.9%(418)
English5.6%(297)
Swedish2.6%(139)
Dutch2.6%(137)
Scottish2.2%(117)
Danish1.6%(87)
Arab1.5%(77)
Syrian0.9%(49)
+ 14 more ancestry groups with data
French0.6%(34)
Polish0.6%(33)
Hungarian0.5%(26)
Portuguese0.4%(21)
Italian0.4%(20)
British0.2%(12)
Scotch-Irish0.2%(11)
Welsh0.2%(11)
Austrian0.1%(7)
Russian0.1%(7)
Australian0.1%(6)
Swiss0.1%(3)
Finnish0%(2)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest American population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest Czech population · Largest Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.7%
+8.1 ptssince 2000
from 20.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.8%
+9.7 ptssince 2000
from 81.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.1%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 4.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.5 min
+23%since 2000
from 12.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.5%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 68.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.0%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
6.1%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.5%
−1.3 ptssince 2011
from 2.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.3%
−7.4 ptssince 2011
from 70.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.6%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.3%
−34.7 ptssince 2009
from 71.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.9%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
Female
48.1%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
Foreign born
1.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.3%
−42.0 ptssince 2009
from 46.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.0%
−2.2 ptssince 2012
from 19.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.8%
−83.7 ptssince 2013
from 90.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
80.9%
+12.3 ptssince 2017
from 68.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.4%
+7.0 ptssince 2016
from 87.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.7%
+1.0 ptssince 2016
from 0.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married33.3%(696)
Married55.3%(1,154)
Widowed3.7%(78)
Divorced7.6%(159)
Women 15+
Never married31.6%(681)
Married45%(969)
Widowed12.2%(262)
Divorced11.2%(240)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 5,085
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Pop 5,619
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Pop 5,603
Places similar to Brule County
Head to head

Compare Brule County to nearby counties

BRULE COUNTY VS
Buffalo County
Income$47,045−36%
Home value$117,800−46%
Population1,802−66%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BRULE COUNTY VS
Aurora County
Income$72,885−1%
Home value$151,900−30%
Population2,801−47%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BRULE COUNTY VS
Jerauld County
Income$73,750same
Home value$150,800−30%
Population1,654−69%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BRULE COUNTY VS
Gregory County
Income$62,917−15%
Home value$139,900−35%
Population4,037−24%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Brule County, South Dakota?

Brule County, South Dakota has about 5,283 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Brule County, South Dakota?

The typical household in Brule County, South Dakota earns about $73,720 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Brule County, South Dakota expensive?

In Brule County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $216,800, and the typical rent is about $835 a month.

How educated are people in Brule County, South Dakota?

About 28.7% of adults age 25 and over in Brule County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Brule County, South Dakota?

About 10.7% of people in Brule County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Brule County, South Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Brule County, South Dakota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 202 residents, a change of about -4 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

2 census tracts
Census Tract 9732Census Tract 9731
3 ZIP codes
ZIP 57325ZIP 57355ZIP 57370
Up the hierarchy
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Rankings
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →