1st Advantage MortgageBrookings County households have a median income of $70,064 and median rent of $901 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's South Dakota license first.
On this page
- Brookings County, SD: the basics
- Brookings County housing compared with South Dakota
- What Brookings County households earn
- The Brookings County job picture
- The counties around Brookings County
- Towns and communities in Brookings County
- Who lives in Brookings County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Brookings County borrowers
- Debt-to-income at Brookings County's medians
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Brookings County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Brookings County, SD: the basics
Roughly 35,353 residents live in Brookings County, South Dakota, 5th by population among the state's 66 counties and county equivalents. It covers 792 square miles of land, or about 45 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 12 Census places inside Brookings County, Brookings leads by population with about 23,948; 9 of the 12 are incorporated.
Brookings County housing compared with South Dakota
A typical Brookings County rental runs $901 a month including utilities, which is 5% below South Dakota. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 38% of renter households here. With a median value of $264,600, a typical Brookings County house costs 3.8 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 57% of homes. The median year built is 1983.
| Brookings County | South Dakota | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $901/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $264,600 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 57% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.1% | 7.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 11% | n/a |
What Brookings County households earn
Half of Brookings County households take in less than $70,064 a year and half take in more, 7% below the South Dakota median of $75,081. Only 38 South Dakota counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Brookings County | +/- vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.4% | +0.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.4% | -1.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.3% | +3.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.9% | -2.3 pts |
About 21% of households earn under $35,000, while 36% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 13.2%, 1 point higher than the state's 11.9%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.415 here. None of these numbers decides a Brookings County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Brookings County job picture
The biggest employer of Brookings County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 27% of workers, followed by manufacturing (21%). Manufacturing stands out: 21% of workers here, versus 10% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Brookings County averages 3.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 2.9%). 4% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 11% work from home.
| Where residents work | Brookings County | Difference from South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.2% | +2.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 21.0% | +11.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.0% | -2.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.9% | +0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.4% | +0.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.4% | 0.0 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
The counties around Brookings County
Distances run center to center, from Moody County at 26 miles out to Kingsbury County at 35. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Brookings County; Hamlin County is highest at $87,101 and Lincoln County lowest at $69,694. Some neighbors are in Minnesota. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Brookings County resident follows South Dakota rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookings County | - | $70,064 | $901/mo | 57% |
| Moody County, SD | 26 mi | $78,427 | $758/mo | 73% |
| Lincoln County, MN | 26 mi | $69,694 | $674/mo | 81% |
| Deuel County, SD | 27 mi | $83,112 | $642/mo | 83% |
| Hamlin County, SD | 28 mi | $87,101 | $800/mo | 82% |
| Lake County, SD | 29 mi | $76,808 | $947/mo | 74% |
| Kingsbury County, SD | 35 mi | $74,000 | $685/mo | 82% |
Towns and communities in Brookings County
Here are the 12 most populous of the county's 12 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 87% of Brookings County residents live in one of the 12. Aurora has the highest median household income on the list ($95,952) and Brookings the lowest ($63,493), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Arlington ($810) and steepest in Volga ($1,130). Live in one of these Brookings County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookings | city | 23,948 | $63,493 | $889 | 5 mi |
| Volga | city | 2,408 | $78,828 | $1,130 | 7 mi |
| Aurora | town | 1,444 | $95,952 | $840 | 9 mi |
| Elkton | city | 977 | $69,688 | $1,061 | 19 mi |
| Arlington | city | 920 | $71,296 | $810 | 17 mi |
| White | city | 484 | $67,639 | $693 | 9 mi |
| Bruce | city | 290 | $55,000 | $692 | 6 mi |
| Sinai | town | 215 | $56,875 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Bushnell | town | 66 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Newdale Colony | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
| Norfeld Colony | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Rolland Colony | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Who lives in Brookings County, in numbers
43% of Brookings County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 5.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Brookings County | South Dakota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.0 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 42.5% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 2.9% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.1% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.2% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Brookings County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 63.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 6.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.1% |
| 60+ min | 2.3% |
What the numbers mean for Brookings County borrowers
What the Brookings County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Debt-to-income at Brookings County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Brookings County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $5,839 a month: gross income for a household at the Brookings County median
- 15% goes to median rent ($901)
- $1,434: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Brookings County's.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Brookings County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the South Dakota license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Lender oversight for Brookings County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Brookings County resident can confirm its license with the South Dakota Division of Banking. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The South Dakota guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the South Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Brookings County?
$70,064 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $75,081 for South Dakota. It ranks 39th of 66 in the state.
What do renters pay in Brookings County?
$901 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
Which towns does the Brookings County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 12 Census places: Brookings, Volga, Aurora, Elkton, Arlington.
Are Brookings County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who regulates personal lenders for Brookings County residents?
The South Dakota Division of Banking licenses consumer lenders in South Dakota; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.