1st Advantage MortgageAbout 76% of Brule County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $73,720. 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
- Brule County at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in Brule County
- What it costs to live in Brule County
- Employment and commuting in Brule County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Brule County
- How Brule County compares with nearby counties
- What a median Brule County budget can carry
- Before borrowing in Brule County
- Who lives in Brule County, in numbers
- Lender oversight for Brule County
- Four steps for Brule County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Brule County at a glance
Roughly 5,283 residents live in Brule County, South Dakota, 33rd by population among the state's 66 counties and county equivalents. It covers 817 square miles of land, or about 6 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Brule County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 7 Census places inside Brule County, Chamberlain leads by population with about 2,588; 3 of the 7 are incorporated. With so few households sampled, Brule County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Paychecks and income spread in Brule County
At $73,720, the typical Brule County household income is 12% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 28th among South Dakota's 66 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Brule County | Difference from South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.8% | +4.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.9% | -7.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.8% | +3.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.5% | -0.6 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 38% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 10.7% of Brule County residents in poverty, against 11.9% across South Dakota. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Brule County median.
What it costs to live in Brule County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $835 in Brule County versus $946 statewide. By the Census definition, 37% of Brule County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $216,800, or 2.9 years of median income. The ownership rate is 76%. Median construction year: 1971.
| Home costs | Brule County | South Dakota | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $835/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $216,800 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.7% | 7.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 17% | 11% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Brule County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Employment and commuting in Brule County
By the Census industry count, 30% of employed Brule County residents work in education and health care and 17% in agriculture, forestry and mining. Compared with South Dakota, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (17% against 6%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 1.5% in Brule County. 4% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 12% work from home.
| Where residents work | Brule County | Difference from South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.9% | +4.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 17.0% | +10.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.4% | +1.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.2% | +3.7 pts |
| Construction | 5.3% | -2.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 3.9% | -5.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Brule County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Brule County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Brule County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 3,345 people, so roughly 37% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Brule County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamberlain | city | 2,588 | $76,761 | $818 | 13 mi |
| Kimball | city | 457 | $52,917 | $814 | 7 mi |
| Pukwana | town | 300 | $63,750 | $1,063 | 6 mi |
| Bijou Hills | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
| Cedar Grove Colony | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 20 mi |
| Grass Ranch Colony | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Ola | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
How Brule County compares with nearby counties
Buffalo County is closest, 22 miles from center to center; the sixth, Douglas County, is 44 miles off. Douglas County leads the group on income ($86,442), Buffalo County trails ($47,045), and Brule County out-earns 4 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brule County | - | $73,720 | $835/mo | 76% |
| Buffalo County, SD | 22 mi | $47,045 | $540/mo | 53% |
| Aurora County, SD | 26 mi | $72,885 | $747/mo | 73% |
| Jerauld County, SD | 33 mi | $73,750 | $632/mo | 84% |
| Gregory County, SD | 39 mi | $62,917 | $614/mo | 77% |
| Lyman County, SD | 39 mi | $67,143 | $651/mo | 70% |
| Douglas County, SD | 44 mi | $86,442 | $877/mo | 77% |
What a median Brule County budget can carry
How much room does a median Brule County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $6,143 a month: gross income for a household at the Brule County median
- Median rent: $835, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,807 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Before borrowing in Brule County
Based on the Brule County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Brule County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Who lives in Brule County, in numbers
29% of Brule County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 6.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Brule County | All of South Dakota | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.7% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.2% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.8% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.7% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.7% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.5% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 58.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.9% |
| 60+ min | 3.5% |
Lender oversight for Brule County
Consumer lenders serving Brule County are licensed by the state, not the county; in South Dakota that is 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.
Four steps for Brule County borrowers
Quick steps for Brule County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Brule County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the South Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Brule County?
$73,720 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $75,081 for South Dakota. It ranks 28th of 66 in the state.
What do renters pay in Brule County?
$835 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
I live in a small Brule County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Chamberlain, Kimball, Pukwana, Bijou Hills, Cedar Grove Colony and 2 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Brule County or elsewhere in South Dakota, the same rules apply.
Is there a Brule County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In South Dakota it is the South Dakota Division of Banking.