What are the schools like in Brookings, SD?

Brookings is served primarily by Brookings School District 05-1. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.3:1.

What is the median household income in Brookings?

The median household income in Brookings, SD is $57,824 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.1%.

What is the weather like in Brookings, SD?

Brookings has an average high temperature of 22.2°F in January and 81.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 24.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 35.8 inches.

Brookings, SD Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Brookings, SD affordable or expensive?

Brookings's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Brookings is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $222,100 and the median rent is $856 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Brookings, SD?

Brookings has a violent crime rate of 85.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1177.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Brookings, SD a Good Place to Live?

Brookings is a small city of 23,530 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $57,824 and a 5.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Brookings stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Brookings is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Brookings city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 93.4

Brookings's overall cost of living index is 93.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Brookings costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Brookings, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$222,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$856	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	48.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$57,824	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Brookings's violent crime rate is 85.2 per 100,000 residents — 78% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

85.2 /100k

Property Crime

1177.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Brookings is served primarily by Brookings School District 05-1. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Brookings, SD	National Avg
School District	Brookings School District 05-1	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	49.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Brookings sees average highs of 22.2°F in January and 81.4°F in July, with 24.7 inches of annual precipitation and 35.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Brookings, SD
Average High — January	22.2°F
Average High — July	81.4°F
Annual Precipitation	24.7"
Annual Snowfall	35.8"

Demographics

Metric	Brookings, SD	National Avg
Population	23,530	—
Median Age	24.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	12.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.6%	18.9%
Asian	4.3%	6.3%
Under 18	18.3%	22.2%
65 and over	10.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Aurora, SD 5 mi Volga, SD 7 mi Bushnell, SD 7 mi Rolland Colony, SD 10 mi Bruce, SD 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Brookings

Brookings, SD is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

57006 57007

Brookings vs Other Cities

Brookings, SD vs Aurora, SD Brookings, SD vs Volga, SD Brookings, SD vs Bushnell, SD Brookings, SD vs Rolland Colony, SD Brookings, SD vs Bruce, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brookings, SD affordable or expensive?

Brookings's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Brookings roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $222,100 and median rent is $856/month.

What is the crime rate in Brookings, SD?

Brookings's violent crime rate is 85.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1177.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Brookings?

Public schools in Brookings are operated by Brookings School District 05-1. The district has 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1. 49.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Brookings, SD a good place to live?

Brookings, SD has a population of 23,530, a median household income of $57,824, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Brookings?

Brookings averages 22.2°F in January and 81.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 24.7 inches with about 35.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Brookings?

Brookings, SD is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 57006, 57007.

What is the population of Brookings?

The population of Brookings, South Dakota is 23,530 with a median age of 24.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Brookings?

Key numbers for living in Brookings: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $222,100, median household income $57,824, crime index 36 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Brookings side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.