Brookings, SD Demographics

A map of Brookings's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	20,646	19,824	86.2%	84.8%
Asian	1,096	878	4.6%	3.8%
Hispanic	999	970	4.2%	4.1%
Multiracial	713	797	3.0%	3.4%
Black	293	565	1.2%	2.4%
Native American/Other	201	343	0.8%	1.5%

Brookings, South Dakota has an estimated population of 23,948, a slight increase from the 23,377 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 86.2% White, 4.6% Asian, 4.2% Hispanic, 3.0% Multiracial, 1.2% Black, and 0.8% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Brookings, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Brookings has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than South Dakota overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Brookings, that probability was 27.6% in 2020 and 25.2% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Brookings is ranked the 4th most populous place in South Dakota, out of 485 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Brookings was ranked the 4th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Brookings's White Population

20,646 residents of Brookings, or 86.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Brookings is higher than in South Dakota overall, where 79.8% of the population is White. Brookings ranks 325th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 485 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Brookings's White population has grown by an estimated 4.1%. White residents' share of Brookings's population has increased from 84.8% to 86.2%.

Brookings is less White than neighboring Aurora (87.3% White), Volga (94.1% White), Bushnell (90.9% White), Bruce (90.3% White), and White (92.8% White).

Brookings's Black Population

293 residents of Brookings, or 1.2% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Brookings is comparable to the share in South Dakota overall, where 2.1% of the population is Black. Brookings ranks 11th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 485 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Brookings's Black population has declined by an estimated 48.1%. Black residents' share of Brookings's population has decreased from 2.4% to 1.2%.

Brookings is more Black than neighboring Aurora (1% Black), Volga (0% Black), Bushnell (0% Black), Bruce (0% Black), and White (0% Black).

Brookings's Asian Population

1,096 residents of Brookings, or 4.6% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Brookings is slightly higher than in South Dakota overall, where 1.4% of the population is Asian. Brookings ranks 11th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 485 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Brookings's Asian population has grown by an estimated 24.8%. Asian residents' share of Brookings's population has increased from 3.8% to 4.6%.

Brookings is more Asian than neighboring Aurora (0.6% Asian), Volga (0.8% Asian), Bushnell (0% Asian), Bruce (0.3% Asian), and White (3.5% Asian).

Brookings's Hispanic Population

999 residents of Brookings, or 4.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Brookings is comparable to the share in South Dakota overall, where 4.8% of the population is Hispanic. Brookings ranks 124th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 485 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Brookings's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 3.0%. Hispanic residents' share of Brookings's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.2%.

Brookings is more Hispanic than neighboring Volga (2.5% Hispanic), Bushnell (0% Hispanic), and White (0.4% Hispanic). Brookings is less Hispanic than neighboring Aurora (8% Hispanic), and Bruce (8.3% Hispanic).

Brookings's Native American/Other Population

201 residents of Brookings, or 0.8% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Brookings is lower than in South Dakota overall, where 7.5% of the population is Native American/Other. Brookings ranks 251st statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 485 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Brookings's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 41.4%. Native American/Other residents' share of Brookings's population has decreased from 1.5% to 0.8%.

Brookings is more Native American/Other than neighboring Volga (0.2% Native American/Other), Bruce (0.3% Native American/Other), and White (0.6% Native American/Other). Brookings is less Native American/Other than neighboring Aurora (1.1% Native American/Other), and Bushnell (9.1% Native American/Other).

Brookings's Multiracial Population

713 residents of Brookings, or 3.0% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Brookings is comparable to the share in South Dakota overall, where 4.4% of the population is Multiracial. Brookings ranks 191st statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 485 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Brookings's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 10.5%. Multiracial residents' share of Brookings's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.0%.

Brookings is more Multiracial than neighboring Aurora (1.9% Multiracial), Volga (2.5% Multiracial), Bushnell (0% Multiracial), Bruce (0.7% Multiracial), and White (2.7% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.