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Brookings County, SD
11 cities and towns and 8 ZIP codes in Brookings County, South Dakota.
Population
35,353
Land area
792sq mi
People per sq mi
45
ZIP codes
8
Cities and towns in Brookings County
Brookings County at a glance
- Brookings County is about 3.7 times as dense as South Dakota as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 5th among 66 counties in South Dakota.
- The median household income is $70,064, 7% below the South Dakota median of $75,081.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $264,600 and median rent is $901 a month.
- Its largest cities are Brookings (23,948), Volga (2,408) and Aurora (1,444).
Local data for Brookings County, SD
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Brookings County, SD, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$70,064
Poverty rate
13.2%
Median home value
$264,600
Prices +1.1% in a year
Median rent
$901/mo
Homeownership
57.2%
Bachelor's or higher
42.5%
Median age
28.0
Average commute
14.3 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (13,601), Norwegian Americans (5,093), Irish Americans (3,688).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
1.4%
Sep 2026, -0.3 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$58,550
19,542 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$66,775
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$227M
FY 2026, $6,606 per person
PPP loans
$76.9M
1,760 loans, 9,976 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$229K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Brookings County, SD, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone73.9%
- Carpooled9.2%
- Public transit0.5%
- Walked3.9%
- Bicycle0.9%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.5%
- Worked from home11.1%
Average one-way commute: 14.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Brookings County, SD, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: winter weather
Storm events since 1996
761
Most often hail
Flood insurance policies
59
0.4% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
81° / 4°F
25.2 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone37 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Brookings County, SD, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
35.7%
U.S. 33.3% +2.4 pts
Diabetes
8.5%
U.S. 12.1% -3.6 pts
Smoking
10.7%
U.S. 12.8% -2.1 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.3%
U.S. 11.1% -3.8 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Brookings County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Brookings County, SD?
- Brookings is the largest city or town in Brookings County, with about 23,948 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Brookings County?
- Brookings County includes 8 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 57002, 57006, 57007, 57026, 57061.
- What is the population of Brookings County, SD?
- About 35,353 people live in Brookings County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Brookings County?
- Brookings County borders Lake County, Pipestone County, MN, Moody County, Hamlin County, Lincoln County, MN, Kingsbury County, Deuel County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023