Brookings County, South Dakota Income Statistics
Brookings County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Brookings County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Brookings County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $70,805 | $75,087 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,730 | $53,860 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.9% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.7% | 10.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.9% | 8.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Brookings County is about 6% lower than in South Dakota. Income has been growing slower in Brookings County (3.9%/yr) than in South Dakota (4.6%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Brookings County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the South Dakota average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Brookings County, South Dakota grew by 71.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $70,805 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Brookings County
| Metric | Brookings County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.521 | 0.504 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $61,248 | $62,990 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $51,736 | $50,603 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 15.5% | 19.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Brookings County, it is 0.521, higher than South Dakota's 0.504, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 18% more than women's income in Brookings County, South Dakota. Over a 35-year career, a 18% wage gap accumulates to roughly $332,920 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Brookings County, South Dakota has narrowed from about 26% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 12% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,191 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Brookings County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 2.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.1% | 9.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 11 | 15 | 22 |
Approximately 742 people are unemployed in Brookings County, South Dakota.
The average commute time in Brookings County is 11 minutes, shorter than the 15 minutes in South Dakota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Brookings County, South Dakota has fallen from 4.5% to 3.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 3.1% in 2015.
Brookings County, SD Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Brookings County, SD is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 35,353 residents against a local median of 6,373. The measure that sets Brookings County, SD apart most is unemployment: 3.7%, 41% above the local median of 2.7%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.9% on unemployment, so Brookings County, SD sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Brookings County, SD has the 6th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookings County, SD | 35,353 | $70,805 #5/6 | 3.9%/yr #6/6 | 3.7% #6/6 | 0.521 #6/6 |
| Moody County, SD | 6,397 | $78,164 | 4.6%/yr | 2.8% | 0.510 |
| Deuel County, SD | 4,328 | $82,264 | 5.1%/yr | 2.1% | 0.489 |
| Lake County, SD | 10,972 | $78,179 | 4.4%/yr | 2.9% | 0.490 |
| Hamlin County, SD | 6,373 | $86,859 | 4.7%/yr | 1.0% | 0.478 |
| Lincoln County, MN | 5,603 | $69,005 | 4.3%/yr | 2.7% | 0.509 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Brookings County, South Dakota has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with South Dakota, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Brookings County, South Dakota.
How Rich Is Brookings County, South Dakota?
Brookings County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $70,805, about 6% lower than the South Dakota average of $75,087.
How fast is household income rising in Brookings County, South Dakota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Brookings County, South Dakota rose 71%, from $41,307 to $70,805. Over the same years, income here outpaced South Dakota as a whole: +71% against +67%.
What was the median household income in Brookings County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Brookings County, South Dakota was $68,569, up 4% from $66,110 in 2022. The South Dakota median that year was $72,558.
What was the median household income in Brookings County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Brookings County, South Dakota was $58,518. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $70,805.
What is the Gini coefficient in Brookings County, South Dakota?
The Gini coefficient in Brookings County is 0.521. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Brookings County, South Dakota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Brookings County, South Dakota has narrowed from about 26% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 12% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,191 since 2009.
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