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Town

Brookings

#1 in Best Places to Live in South Dakota
  • A+
    Overall Grade
  • Town in South Dakota
  • 82 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
    A-
  12. Commute
    A
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Population
23,292

Real Estate

Median Home Value
$164,500
National
$184,700
Median Rent
$675
National
$949
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Area Feel
Suburban
Rent vs. Own
  • Rent
    51%
  • Own
    49%

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
    92
    283
  • Murder
    0
    6
  • Rape
    21
    41
  • Robbery
    4
    136
Property Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Burglary
    184
    500
  • Theft
    1,226
    2,043
  • Motor Vehicle Theft
    150
    284

Residents

Diversity
B-
Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
Median Household Income
$47,060
National
$55,322
Children
15%
Education Levels
National
  • Master's degree or higher
    18%
    12%
  • Bachelor's degree
    29%
    19%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    26%
    29%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    22%
    28%
  • Less than high school diploma
    4%
    13%
  • Public Schools
  • Colleges
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Brookings Reviews

82 reviews
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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!
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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.