Skip to Main Content
© Mapbox / © OpenStreetMap
Town0

Brookings

#2 in Best Places to Live in South Dakota
  • A
    Overall Grade
  • Town in South Dakota
  • 96 reviews
    A
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      A-
    2. Crime & Safety
      B
    3. Housing
      B+
    4. Nightlife
      A
    5. Good for Families
      A
    6. Diversity
      B-
    7. Jobs
      A-
    8. Weather
      B-
    9. Cost of Living
      A-
    10. Health & Fitness
      B
    11. Outdoor Activities
      B-
    12. Commute
      A
    View Full Report Card
    Brookings is a town in South Dakota with a population of 23,471. Brookings is in Brookings County and is one of the best places to live in South Dakota. Living in Brookings offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents rent their homes. In Brookings there are a lot of bars and parks. Many young professionals live in Brookings and residents tend to lean conservative. The public schools in Brookings are highly rated.
    Population
    23,471

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $169,400
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $699
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    Dense Suburban
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      51%
    • Own
      49%
    Sponsored Mortgage Options for Brookings
    Get Rates
    • $0 Lender Fee on Home Loans Limited Time Only
    • Biggest Home Loan Sale Ever. Low interest rates. Get a quote today!
    Niche may be compensated by the third party lenders and others who place ads on the website. Niche is not a lender and does not endorse the products of these advertisers. Fees that Niche receives for ads do not affect the terms you may be offered by the lender you choose. There are many additional borrowing options available.

    Brookings Rankings

    Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

    Crime & Safety

    Crime & Safety
    B
    Based on violent and property crime rates.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      128.1
      282.7
    • Murder
      0
      6.1
    • Rape
      53.7
      40.7
    • Robbery
      8.3
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      148.7
      500.1
    • Theft
      1,132
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      57.8
      284

    Residents

    Diversity
    B-
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      10%
    • 10-17 years
      7%
    • 18-24 years
      35%
    • 25-34 years
      14%
    • 35-44 years
      8%
    • 45-54 years
      9%
    • 55-64 years
      8%
    • 65+ years
      9%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      18%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      27%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      26%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      25%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      4%
      13%

    Working in Brookings

    Jobs
    A-
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $47,506
    National
    $55,322
    Search for Jobs in Brookings
    • Public Schools
    • Colleges
    Places like Brookings
    More

    Brookings Reviews

    96 reviews
    All Categories
    I like that when you enter any store or building you are either greeted with a "Hello" or a smile from someone, even if they are leaving. You can easily stop and ask for directions and get a pretty good descriptive answer. Brookings might be considered a "college town" but it is a respectable and welcoming college town where everyone supports the local grade schools and the college! Everyone gets involved as much as possible to help out and make sure that visitors have a great experience here!
    Start Your Review of Brookings
    Rate It!
    I recently moved to Brookings when I enrolled as a student at South Dakota State University and I love the town! I come from Minneapolis, Minnesota so the size difference was a bit difficult to adjust to at first, but now I am so glad to live here. Brookings has the charm of a small town while still having many conveniences such as a Walmart, Hy-Vee, JC Penny's and various other stores and restaurants to ensure residents will have everything they could need. And for those looking for more options, Sioux Falls is a short car ride away! In addition, the people I have met in Brookings have been nothing but welcoming, and the town has truly come to feel like a second home.
    I've lived here my whole life, and likely will continue to do so. The public school system is amazing, especially the High School. They have a HUGE variety of classes for your children to take. There are Ten specific art classes! The Physical education course allows students to scuba dive, or take project adventure, which allows for (very safe) tightrope walking and zip lining. The town does not have much in the way of entertainment however. Brookings, being a college town, has an abundance of mediocre bars, and pizza places and nothing else. hopefully that will change in coming years, as Brookings is rapidly expanding, both in way of business and residential growth.