4th most populous of 66
With 37,495 residents in 2024, Brown County ranks 4th by population among South Dakota's 66 counties and is home to 4.1% of the state's residents.
Brown County is home to 37,495 people (2024 estimate) on 1,713 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.
Key indicators
Population
37,495
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
38,296
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
−2.1%
2020–2024
Land area
1,713 mi²
4,437 km²
Population density
21.9 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
383
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
416
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
−33
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
−124
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$79,984
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$3.2 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$70,898
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
11.7%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
33.8%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
4.3%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$221,100
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
1.8%
BLS annual average, 2024
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
2000–202437,495▲ 6%
U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.
Data summary
| Indicator | Value | Year and source |
|---|---|---|
| Population estimate | 37,495 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 36,531 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 35,472 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | +5.7% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +31 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | −155 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 10.2 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 11.1 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in South Dakota | 4th of 66 | 2024 · calculated |
| Per capita personal income | $79,984 | BEA, 2024 · official |
| Gross domestic product | $3.2 billion | BEA, current dollars, 2024 · official |
| Median household income | $70,898 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 33.8% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 4.3% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $221,100 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $777/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 37.8 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 16,285 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 67.6% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
Brown County in context
Comparable indicators for Brown County, South Dakota and the United States.
| Indicator | County | South Dakota | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | −2.1% | +4.3% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 10.2 | 12.2 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 11.1 | 9.4 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | -3.3 | 4.1 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 21.9 | 12.2 | 96.3 | 2024 |
| Per capita personal income | $79,984 | $75,699 | $73,204 | BEA, 2024 |
| Median household income | $70,898 | $75,081 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 11.9% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 33.8% | 31.9% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 4.3% | 4.0% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $221,100 | $257,400 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $777/month | $946/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 37.8 years | 38.0 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 67.6% | 68.6% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
Cities & towns
1 city · choose how to order them
Aberdeen
28,600 residents
Did you know? Brown County
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 35,472 in 2000 to 37,495 in 2024, a change of +5.7%, compared with +22.3% for South Dakota as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 383 births and 416 deaths, so deaths outnumbered births by 33.
Peak population in 2017
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population at 39,332 in 2017. The 2024 figure is 1,837 lower.
12th in density
Brown County has about 21.9 residents per square mile of land, ranking 12th of 66 counties; South Dakota averages 12.2.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $70,898 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 36th of 66 South Dakota counties; the state median is $75,081.
Size of the economy
Its economy produced $3.2 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 4th largest among 66 South Dakota counties.
Latest economic growth
Real GDP fell 3.0% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).
Sources and methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau — County population totals and components, Vintage 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau — County estimates 2010–2020
- U.S. Census Bureau — Intercensal estimates 2000–2010
- U.S. Census Bureau — Gazetteer files (land area)
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional economic accounts
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — LAUS