Brookings County, SD Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Brookings County | South Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 36,147 | 912,694 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 44.9 | 11.8 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.65% | 0.79% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 26.7 | 35.5 | 37.1 |
| Households | 13,490 | 358,551 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Brookings County grew by 18.8% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 34,968 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Brookings County has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Brookings County | South Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $68,569 | $72,558 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 3.99% | 4.77% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.0% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Brookings County is about 5% lower than in South Dakota.
Housing
| Metric | Brookings County | South Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $118,181 | $98,153 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $873 | $912 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 58.9% | 68.6% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Brookings County is about 11.3 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $873 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Brookings County spend about 23 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 98 hours, about 4.1 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Brookings County | South Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 11.7 | 15.3 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 23.4 | 30.7 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 98 | 128 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $3,028 | $3,961 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 10.9% | 9.3% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 3,600 | 2,777 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 508 | 353 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
South Dakota:
Jones County (6.4 min), Jackson County (7.5 min), Bennett County (7.7 min).
Slowest:
McCook County (26.4 min), Ziebach County (25.1 min), Turner County (25.1 min).
The average commute time in Brookings County is 12 minutes, shorter than the 15 minutes in South Dakota.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Brookings County has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | Brookings County | South Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.2% | 28.0% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.35 | 2.42 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
South Dakota:
Clay County (0.4), Lincoln County (0.3), Stanley County (0.3).
Lowest:
Buffalo County (0.1), Mellette County (0.2), Oglala Lakota County (0.2).
Health
Brookings County has a health index of A, which means it is very healthy.
| Metric | Brookings County | South Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 80.0 | 79.9 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 8.7% | 13.8% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 12.9% | 19.9% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
South Dakota:
Brookings County (0.8), Lincoln County (0.8), Clay County (0.8).
Lowest:
Todd County (0.7), Buffalo County (0.7), Mellette County (0.7).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Brookings County, South Dakota.
What is the population of Brookings County, South Dakota?
The population of Brookings County, South Dakota is 36,147, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Brookings County, South Dakota?
The population density of Brookings County, South Dakota is 44.9 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Brookings County, South Dakota?
The median household income in Brookings County, South Dakota is $68,569, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Brookings County, South Dakota?
The median home price in Brookings County, South Dakota is $118,181, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Brookings County, South Dakota?
The unemployment rate in Brookings County, South Dakota is 3.6%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.