Brule County, South Dakota Income Statistics
Brule 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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B
Brule County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Brule County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $73,237 | $75,087 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,814 | $53,860 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.8% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.6% | 10.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.5% | 8.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Brule County is about 2% lower than in South Dakota. Income has been growing faster in Brule County (4.8%/yr) than in South Dakota (4.6%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Brule County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, about the same as the South Dakota average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Brule County, South Dakota grew by 64.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $73,237 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Brule County
| Metric | Brule County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.528 | 0.504 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $58,608 | $62,990 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $48,526 | $50,603 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.2% | 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 Brule County, it is 0.528, 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 21% more than women's income in Brule County, South Dakota. Over a 35-year career, a 21% wage gap accumulates to roughly $352,870 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Brule County, South Dakota has narrowed from about 27% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2010, and was narrowest at 14% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,004 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Brule County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.5% | 2.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 12.4% | 9.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 11 | 15 | 22 |
Approximately 39 people are unemployed in Brule County, South Dakota.
The average commute time in Brule County is 11 minutes, shorter than the 15 minutes in South Dakota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Brule County, South Dakota has fallen from 2.8% to 1.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 3.8% in 2014.
Brule County, SD Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Brule County, SD is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 5,283 residents against a local median of 2,642. The measure that sets Brule County, SD apart most is unemployment: 1.5%, 35% below the local median of 2.3%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 9.6% on unemployment, so Brule County, SD sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Brule County, SD has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brule County, SD | 5,283 | $73,237 #2/6 | 4.8%/yr #5/6 | 1.5% #2/6 | 0.528 #4/6 |
| Buffalo County, SD | 1,808 | $47,368 | 5.4%/yr | 10.8% | 0.660 |
| Aurora County, SD | 2,642 | $71,438 | 4.0%/yr | 1.2% | 0.486 |
| Gregory County, SD | 4,016 | $62,311 | 5.8%/yr | 2.3% | 0.508 |
| Jerauld County, SD | 1,772 | $74,889 | 5.1%/yr | 1.7% | 0.460 |
| Charles Mix County, SD | 9,281 | $65,346 | 5.4%/yr | 5.8% | 0.554 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Brule County, South Dakota has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than South Dakota, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Brule County, South Dakota.
How Rich Is Brule County, South Dakota?
Brule County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $73,237, about 2% lower than the South Dakota average of $75,087.
How has median household income changed in Brule County, South Dakota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Brule County, South Dakota rose 65%, from $44,499 to $73,237. Over the same years, income here lagged behind South Dakota as a whole: +65% against +67%.
What was the median household income in Brule County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Brule County, South Dakota was $73,491, up 15% from $63,977 in 2022. The South Dakota median that year was $72,558.
What was the median household income in Brule County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Brule County, South Dakota was $57,856. By 2024 it had risen 27% to $73,237.
How strong is the job market in Brule County, South Dakota?
Unemployment in Brule County, South Dakota is only 1.5%, well below the South Dakota rate of 2.9%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Brule County, South Dakota?
The Gini coefficient in Brule County is 0.528. 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 Brule County, South Dakota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Brule County, South Dakota has narrowed from about 27% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2010, and was narrowest at 14% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,004 since 2009.
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