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Brookings County, South Dakota Demographics 2026

Brookings County, South Dakota has a population of 34,968, the 5th most populous county in South Dakota. The median household income is $67,341 and the median home value is $246,300. The poverty rate is 12.8%.

Brookings County Quick Facts

Population 34,968
Median Household Income $67,341
Median Home Value $246,300
Poverty Rate 12.8%
Unemployment Rate 3.6%
Median Age 28.0 years
Homeownership Rate 58.9%
Affordability Ratio 3.7x
Bachelor's Degree+ 44.0%
High School Graduation 96.7%
Cities/Places 9
Population 34,968 5th of 66
Median Income $67,341 7% lower state
Poverty Rate 12.8%
Unemployment 3.6%

Economy & Housing

Employment

3.6% Unemployment Rate State: 3.0% | National: 5.2%
69.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 58.9%
Renter 41.1%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.7x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

22out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 33 | National average: 60

Education

Cities & Places in Brookings County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Brookings city23,710$61,97916.1%$243,600
Volga city2,246$75,4177.5%$220,200
Aurora town1,407$90,6122.1%$219,100
Elkton city971$58,75027.9%$183,800
White city438$63,1255.3%$141,700
Bruce city283$52,5007.1%$95,000
Sinai town220$52,1881.4%$91,500
Bushnell town66$91,2509.1%$87,500
Wood town55$34,37540.0%N/A

Explore South Dakota Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Brookings County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 34,968. It is the 5th most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Brookings County is 28.0 years. This is 26% lower than the state median of 37.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Brookings County is $67,341. This is 7% lower than the state median of $72,421. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 14% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.8%. This is 7% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 20% higher than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $246,300. Housing costs are 4% higher than the state median of $236,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 58.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% lower than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Brookings County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.3%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (3.4% vs 1.4%).

Education

44.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Brookings County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 41% higher than the state rate of 31.1%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.7%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Brookings County, South Dakota?

Brookings County has a population of 34,968, making it the 5th most populous county in South Dakota.

What is the median income in Brookings County?

The median household income in Brookings County is $67,341 with a poverty rate of 12.8%.

How many cities are in Brookings County, South Dakota?

Brookings County contains 9 Census-designated places.