Brookings County, South Dakota
Among the top 10% of US counties for lifestyle & connectivity.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade B, better than 58% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade B+, better than 77% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 38% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 76% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade A, better than 90% of US counties
- top 2% for commute time
- top 4% for amenities nearby
- bottom 16% for school quality
Brookings County is a county in South Dakota with about 35,000 residents. It grades A for lifestyle & connectivity and C for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include commute time, amenities nearby, and income tax. It rates lower on airport distance and school quality.
Official websitebrookingscountysd.gov (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Harsh winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
freezing
v.cold
cool
comf.
warm
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cool
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80%57%clearovercast
Precipitation 3.7 in0.5 in
humid 84%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$64k61st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$45kbetter than 51% of US counties
Home Value$228k75th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$870better than 40% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 23% of US counties
Property Tax Rate1.17%better than 28% of US counties
Income Tax0.00%better than 91% of US counties
Sales Tax6.11%better than 78% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden6.15%better than 85% of US counties
Unemployment3.9%better than 66% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)15°F5th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)72°F21st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation25.5 in20th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall36.8 inbetter than 23% of US counties
Sunny Days245 daysbetter than 60% of US counties
Summer Humidity61°Fbetter than 74% of US counties
Comfortable Days88 daysbetter than 73% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk50.1better than 49% of US counties
Air Quality42 AQIbetter than 56% of US counties
School Quality40.1better than 16% of US counties
Violent Crime782/100kbetter than 50% of US counties
Property Crime974/100kbetter than 46% of US counties
Community
Population34,63158th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age27.71st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.1936th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0578th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+1325th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)88.6%67th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)1.1%38th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)3.9%42nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)3.1%90th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)3.4%51st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time14 minbetter than 98% of US counties
Walkability7.1/20better than 77% of US counties
Airport Distance179 mibetter than 18% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access89.1%better than 84% of US counties
Amenities Nearby21.37better than 96% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 42% of US counties
Frequently asked questions
- Is Brookings County an affordable place to live?
- Brookings County is about average in cost. Its cost-of-living index is $45k, better than 51% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Brookings County?
- The median home value in Brookings County is $228k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Brookings County?
- Median household income in Brookings County is $64k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Brookings County?
- Median gross rent in Brookings County is $870 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Brookings County safe?
- Brookings County is about average for safety comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 782/100k (better than 50%). Property crime is 974/100k.
- What is the weather like in Brookings County?
- Brookings County averages 72°F in July and 15°F in January, with 25.5 in of annual precipitation and about 245 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Brookings County?
- Public-school quality in Brookings County is below average, scoring better than 16% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Brookings County?
- The average one-way commute in Brookings County is 14 min.
Other counties in South Dakota
Explore South Dakota
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)