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Brown County, South Dakota Demographics 2026

Brown County, South Dakota has a population of 38,079, the 4th most populous county in South Dakota. The median household income is $70,239 and the median home value is $212,900. The poverty rate is 10.6%.

Brown County Quick Facts

Population 38,079
Median Household Income $70,239
Median Home Value $212,900
Poverty Rate 10.6%
Unemployment Rate 3.5%
Median Age 37.8 years
Homeownership Rate 65.7%
Affordability Ratio 3.0x
Bachelor's Degree+ 33.2%
High School Graduation 93.7%
Cities/Places 11
Population 38,079 4th of 66
Median Income $70,239 3% lower state
Poverty Rate 10.6%
Unemployment 3.5%

Economy & Housing

Employment

3.5% Unemployment Rate State: 3.0% | National: 5.2%
70.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 65.7%
Renter 34.3%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.0x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

27out of 100
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 Brown County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Aberdeen city28,297$63,71512.9%$205,500
Groton city1,794$82,0833.9%$173,000
Warner town494$114,3750.4%$231,600
Hecla city204N/A9.3%$47,100
Frederick town178$81,07112.9%$83,100
Columbia city170$59,0381.2%$121,900
Westport town93$58,7500.0%$103,900
Claremont town90$56,66710.0%$74,000
Ravinia town53$29,16720.8%$63,300
Stratford town50$73,7508.0%$69,200
Verdon town4N/A0.0%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

Brown County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 38,079. It is the 4th most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 11 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Brown County is 37.8 years. This is about average than the state median of 37.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Brown County is $70,239. This is 3% lower than the state median of $72,421. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 11% lower. The poverty rate stands at 10.6%. This is 12% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.5%. This is 16% higher than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $212,900. Housing costs are 10% lower than the state median of $236,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 65.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Brown County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.4%. The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 2.2%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (3.0% vs 1.4%).

Education

33.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 7% 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 93.7%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Brown County, South Dakota?

Brown County has a population of 38,079, making it the 4th most populous county in South Dakota.

What is the median income in Brown County?

The median household income in Brown County is $70,239 with a poverty rate of 10.6%.

How many cities are in Brown County, South Dakota?

Brown County contains 11 Census-designated places.