HomeSouth DakotaBrown County
Brown County, South Dakota: commercial real estate data.
Brown County, South Dakota had an estimated 37,495 residents on July 1, 2024, down 2.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 38,296, across 1,713 square miles. County output reached $3.16 bn in 2024, 1,245 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 16 7(a) approvals worth $10.1 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Brown County
How many people live in Brown County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202437,877
- Households16,285
- Average household size2.33
- Median household income$70,898
- Median age37.8
- Median gross rent$777 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$221,100
- Home value to household income3.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income13.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher33.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree11.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over24,919
- Population under 188,948
- Share under 1823.6 percent
- Population 65 and over6,731
- Share 65 and over17.8 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6422,198
- Civilian labor force20,511
- Unemployment rate3.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over70.9 percent
- Rank by population among South Dakota counties4th of 66
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1258th of 3,222
Brown County is the 4th largest of 66 South Dakota counties by population. A median home costs 3.1 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.6 percent against 17.8 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Brown County
Is Brown County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202437,495
- Census 2020 base population38,296
- Population change since the 2020 census base-2.09 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-155
- Births, 2024383
- Deaths, 2024416
- Natural change, 2024-33
- Net domestic migration, 2024-155
- Net international migration, 202431
- Total net migration, 2024-124
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-891
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2520th of 3,144
The county has lost 2.09 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. The population fell in 2024 from both sources: deaths exceeded births and more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Brown County
Where are people moving to Brown County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving807
- People arriving, from those returns1,370
- Tax returns filed by households leaving967
- Net household movement-160
- Adjusted gross income arriving$43.0 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-18.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$53,249
- Average income of a leaving household$63,817
- Largest single originSpink County (39 households)
- Largest single destinationMinnehaha County (74 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spink County | 39 | 73 | $1.8 m |
| Codington County | 31 | 45 | $1.1 m |
| Minnehaha County | 31 | 39 | $884,000 |
| Edmunds County | 22 | 38 | $1.4 m |
Households arriving report $10,568 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Spink County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Brown County
What is the Brown County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$3.16 bn
- County GDP, 2023$3.19 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 2024-1.1 percent
- GDP change over five years28.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the South Dakota areas BEA publishes4th of 66
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes943rd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$83,307
Output grew -1.1 percent in the latest year and 28.8 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Brown County
Employment by industry in Brown County
- Covered employment, annual average19,808
- Establishments reporting1,522
- Average annual pay$54,430
- Average weekly wage$1,047
- Health care and social assistance, employment3,183
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$60,760
- Retail trade, employment2,759
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,114
- Manufacturing, employment2,611
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$61,843
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,818
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$20,675
- Wholesale trade, employment1,040
- Construction, employment1,006
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 3,183 | 118 | $60,760 |
| Retail trade | 2,759 | 170 | $36,114 |
| Manufacturing | 2,611 | 42 | $61,843 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,818 | 96 | $20,675 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,040 | 117 | $78,052 |
| Construction | 1,006 | 166 | $64,544 |
| Finance and insurance | 905 | 120 | $82,822 |
| Other services, except public administration | 621 | 97 | $35,043 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 3,183 jobs, 16.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Brown County
How many businesses are in Brown County?
- Establishments, all industries1,245
- Employment at those establishments17,306
- Annual payroll$860.8 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents32.9
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Brown County
Building permits in Brown County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202485
- Declared construction value permitted$14.6 m
- Single family units authorized69
- Multifamily units authorized16
- Multifamily share of units18.8 percent
- Average declared value per unit$171,468
- Units authorized per 1,000 households5.2
Single-family homes are 81.2 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Brown County
SBA loans in Brown County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded16
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$10.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$630,063
- Median 7(a) approval$148,400
- Largest single approval$3,996,400
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)212
- Jobs per approval13.3
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active9
- Distinct industries receiving approvals14
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer6.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms1
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter14
- Franchise loans3
- Franchise share of approvals18.8 percent
- Most active lenderFirst Interstate Bank (7)
- 504 approvals recorded40
- 504 gross approval dollars$16.9 m
- Average 504 approval$422,200
- Median 504 approval$300,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval5.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved13.3
- Most active CDCAlly Dakota Development, Inc. (18)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$27.0 m
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Brown County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Brown County
Do SBA loans in Brown County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded3
- Paid in full2
- Charged off1
- Status: Exempt from disclosure12
- Status: Paid in full2
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Cancelled1
Only 3 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Brown County
SBA lending by place in Brown County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending2
- Aberdeen, approvals15
- Brookings, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 15 | $9,931,000 |
| Brookings | 1 | $150,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Brown County
How large is Brown County?
- Land area1,713 sq mi
- Rank by land area among South Dakota counties13th of 66
- Width, east to west36 mi
- Height, north to south48.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary8
- Residents per square mile of land22
- Establishments per square mile0.73
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Brown County
Flood risk in Brown County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Brown County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 460006
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book11
- Of those, participating in the NFIP10
- NFIP participation rate90.9 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 9
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Brown County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Brown County (community 460006), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Brown County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 9, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 90.9 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Brown County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Brown County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202437,877
- Households16,285
- Average household size2.33
- Median household income$70,898
- Median age37.8
Common questions
Brown County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Brown County, South Dakota?
The Census Bureau estimates 37,495 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 37,877, in 16,285 households, ranking 4th of 66 South Dakota counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Brown County's population growing?
The population has fallen 2.09 percent since the 2020 census base of 38,296, to 37,495 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 383 births against 416 deaths, with net migration of -124. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Brown County?
$70,898. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $221,100, which is 3.1 times income, and median gross rent is $777 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Brown County?
1,245 establishments, employing 17,306 people with an annual payroll of $860.8 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Brown County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 3,183 jobs, 16.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 19,808 jobs at an average annual pay of $54,430, or $1,047 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Brown County?
16 7(a) approvals totaling $10.1 m since FY2020, across 9 lenders, with a median approval of $148,400, plus 40 504 approvals worth $16.9 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Brown County?
85 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $14.6 m. Multifamily was 18.8 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Brown County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Brown County come from?
The largest single origin is Spink County, with 39 households. Arriving households report an average income of $53,249 against $63,817 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Brown County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Brown County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Brown County
Cities and places in Brown.
16 Census places lie wholly or partly in Brown County. All 16 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | city | 28,189 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Groton | city | 1,691 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Warner | town | 512 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Prairiewood Village | CDP | 474 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hecla | city | 182 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Columbia | city | 161 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Frederick | town | 160 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Claremont | town | 106 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Westport | town | 93 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bath | CDP | 91 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bath Corner | CDP | 72 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Stratford | town | 62 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hutterville Colony | CDP | 13 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Mansfield | CDP | 12 | None recorded | 73.3 percent here, 26.7 percent Spink County |
| Verdon | town | 4 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ferney | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 16 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Brown County, the largest being Brookings (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.