As of the 2023
American Community Survey, there are 8,860 estimated households in Brookings with an average of 2.31 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $61,979. Approximately 16.1% of the city's population lives at or below the
poverty line. Brookings has an estimated 69.2% employment rate, with 49.7% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 96.7% holding a high school diploma. The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (90.4%), Spanish (2.9%), Indo-European (3.8%), Asian and Pacific Islander (1.3%), and Other (1.5%).
Racial and ethnic composition 2020 census As of the
2020 census, Brookings had a population of 23,377 people in 8,861 households, including 4,405 families. The median age was 26.3 years. 18.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 11.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.9 males age 18 and over. The
population density was . There were 10,031 housing units at an average density of . There were 8,861 households, of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 38.6% were married-couple households, 27.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. Of the 10,031 housing units, 11.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 14.5%.
2010 census As of the
2010 census, there were 22,056 people, 8,159 households, and 3,836 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 8,715 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 92.06%
White, 1.06%
African American, 0.98%
Native American, 3.72%
Asian, 0.04%
Pacific Islander, 0.54% from some other races and 1.60% from two or more races.
Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.52% of the population. There were 8,159 households, of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% were
married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 53.0% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age in the city was 23.5 years. 16.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 38% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.3% were from 25 to 44; 15.2% were from 45 to 64; and 8.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.1% male and 48.9% female.
2000 census As of the
2000 census, there were 18,504 people, 6,971 households, and 3,422 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 7,359 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.49%
White, 0.44%
African American, 0.99%
Native American, 1.88%
Asian, 0.05%
Pacific Islander, 0.26% from some other races and 0.88% from two or more races.
Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.75% of the population. There were 6,971 households, out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.5% were
married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.9% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.93. In the city, the population was spread out, with 17.4% under the age of 18, 36.6% from 18 to 24, 22.0% from 25 to 44, 14.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.6 males. As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $31,266, and the median income for a family was $49,246. Males had a median income of $31,276 versus $22,763 for females. The
per capita income for the city was $17,028. About 7.3% of families and 18.5% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.
Ancestry The two largest ancestries in the city are: • 44.5%
German • 24.8%
Norwegian Religion As of 2010, 60.7% of Brookings's population claimed affiliation with a religious congregation. The largest such groups were: •
Lutheran – 29% •
Roman Catholic – 22% •
Methodist – 10% •
Wesleyan – 10% • All other religious congregations – 30% Brookings is also home to the
Institute of Lutheran Theology, a pan-denominational Lutheran seminary. Students come from across the Lutheran spectrum, with the majority affiliated with one of three denominations: the
North American Lutheran Church,
Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ and the
Canadian Association of Lutheran Congregations. ==Economy==