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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Brookings Micro

Brookings, SD · 1 counties · 37,635 residents (2025 est.) · 792.217 sq mi
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The short version

Brookings has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $70,064. Population has grown 25% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $264,600. At a median age of 28.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
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
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
35,353
+25%since 2000
from 28,220 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
45 / sq mi
+25%since 2000
from 36 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
28.0
+5%since 2000
from 26.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:37,635 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
24K27K30K33K36K1990201020202024Brookings
202435K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$70,064
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,438 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,295
+101%since 2000
from $17,586 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
47.1%
+26.1 ptssince 2009
from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.2%
−0.9 ptssince 2000
from 14.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.415
−2%since 2010
from 0.425 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade21%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction6.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services4.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade4.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance2.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing0.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$264,600
+71%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $84,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$901
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $396 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
57.2%
−1.0 ptssince 2000
from 58.2% in 2000
42.8% rent
Vacancy rate
9.1%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
36.2%
−10.7 ptssince 2009
from 46.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.8
+58%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
59
RELATED:See current rent listings in Brookings on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.9%(27,062)
Black0.3%(85)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(247)
Asian1.3%(375)
Other0%
Diversity Score6.3%(1,764)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic87.5%(30,925)
Black1%(371)
Hispanic / Latino4.6%(1,609)
Asian3.3%(1,160)
Other3.6%(1,288)
Diversity Score28.8%(10,174)
Segregation Score18.5%(6,548)
Diversity Score
29
+360%since 2000
from 6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
19
+20%since 2020
from 15 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
42.5%
+10.3 ptssince 2000
from 32.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
97.1%
+6.9 ptssince 2000
from 90.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
14.3%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 12.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.3 min
+30%since 2000
from 11.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
73.9%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 74.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.1%
+7.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.9%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.9%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.7%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 4.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
69.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2011
from 70.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 15.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
42.9%
−23.0 ptssince 2009
from 65.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Female
49.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Foreign born
6.2%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.8%
−45.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
9.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2012
from 9.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.1%
−85.7 ptssince 2013
from 90.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.2%
+10.9 ptssince 2017
from 80.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
90.3%
−2.9 ptssince 2016
from 93.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.5%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 2.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

BrookingsCENTRAL25,355
What's inside

1 component county

Brookings CountyCENTRAL37,635
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Brookings

Lewisburg
Pop 38,071
Fort Dodge
Pop 36,838
Crawfordsville
Pop 38,954
Garden City
Pop 37,505
Places similar to Brookings
Head to head

Compare Brookings side by side

BROOKINGS VS
Lewisburg
Income$71,049+1%
Home value$279,800+6%
Population38,071+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BROOKINGS VS
Fort Dodge
Income$68,975−2%
Home value$153,800−42%
Population36,838−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BROOKINGS VS
Crawfordsville
Income$71,479+2%
Home value$171,800−35%
Population38,954+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BROOKINGS VS
Garden City
Income$73,009+4%
Home value$201,400−24%
Population37,505same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Brookings, SD?

Brookings, SD has about 35,353 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Brookings, SD?

The typical household in Brookings, SD earns about $70,064 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Brookings, SD expensive?

In Brookings, SD, the median home is worth about $264,600, and the typical rent is about $901 a month.

How educated are people in Brookings, SD?

About 42.5% of adults age 25 and over in Brookings, SD hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Brookings, SD?

About 13.2% of people in Brookings, SD live below the federal poverty line.

Has Brookings, SD grown since 1990?

Yes, Brookings, SD has grown since 1990. The population has added about 10,146 residents, a change of about 40 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →