Brookings, South Dakota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Brookings, South Dakota had a total population of 23,948, the 4th largest city in South Dakota, with a median household income of $63,493, which is 15% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 16.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Brookings is the 4th largest city in South Dakota with a population of 23,948.
- 47.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in South Dakota.
Brookings Quick Facts
How Brookings Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 23,710 | 23,948 | +1.0% |
| Median household income | $61,979 | $63,493 | +2.4% |
| Median home value | $243,600 | $265,500 | +9.0% |
How Brookings Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 35 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Brookings Rankings in South Dakota
Explore South Dakota Rankings
Other Cities in Brookings County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volga | 2,408 | $78,828 | 6.1% | $240,000 |
| Aurora | 1,444 | $95,952 | 2.7% | $234,600 |
| Elkton | 977 | $69,688 | 26.7% | $185,100 |
| Arlington | 920 | $71,296 | 19.1% | $144,300 |
| White | 484 | $67,639 | 4.1% | $128,800 |
| Lake Poinsett | 348 | $96,875 | 5.2% | $493,200 |
| Bruce | 290 | $55,000 | 6.2% | $114,100 |
| Sinai | 215 | $56,875 | 1.9% | $89,300 |
| Bushnell | 66 | N/A | 7.6% | $90,000 |
Cities Similar to Brookings
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown | 23,044 | $69,600 | $229,400 | 21.6% | 9.0% |
| Aberdeen | 28,189 | $64,405 | $217,300 | 35.0% | 13.8% |
| Yankton | 15,540 | $67,804 | $222,700 | 33.2% | 14.1% |
| Mitchell | 15,649 | $58,620 | $192,200 | 23.6% | 12.5% |
| Huron | 14,385 | $61,452 | $159,000 | 27.0% | 16.1% |
Population Overview
Brookings is a small city located in South Dakota, within Brookings County. The total population is 23,948. It ranks as the 4th most populous out of 439 Census-designated places in South Dakota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Brookings is 24.7 years. This is 35% lower than the state median of 38.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Brookings is $63,493. This is 15% lower than the state median of $75,081. It is also 21% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.9%. This is 42% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 52% higher than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $265,500. Housing costs are 3% higher than the state median of $257,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 47.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 30% lower than the state average of 68.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Brookings has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.2% of all residents. Asian residents account for 4.6%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (4.6% vs 1.4%).
Education
47.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Brookings in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 49% higher than the state rate of 31.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 97.5%. Notably, 17.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Brookings, South Dakota is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against South Dakota state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 439 Census-designated places in South Dakota. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all South Dakota city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Brookings, South Dakota?
Brookings, South Dakota has a population of 23,948 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Brookings, SD?
The median household income in Brookings is $63,493, which is 21% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Brookings, SD?
The poverty rate in Brookings is 16.9%. This means approximately 3,520 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Brookings, South Dakota?
Brookings's population is 86.2% White, 1.2% Black, 4.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 4.6% Asian.
What is the median home value in Brookings, SD?
The median home value in Brookings is $265,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x.
How educated is Brookings, South Dakota?
47.5% of adults (25+) in Brookings hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 17.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.