County profile · South Dakota
Brown County, SD market data
How Brown County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 37,561
- −1.7% since 2020
- Households
- 16,285
- Median household income
- $70,898
- +21.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $221,100
- Jobs located here
- 19,972
- Highest market score
- 63
- Bakeries and dessert shops, #435 of 1,889 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Brown County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Brown County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Brown County has an estimated 37,561 people and 16,285 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Brown County declined 1.7%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Brown County is $70,898, 12% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 21.8%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Brown County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 114, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (66).
Of the business types scored in Brown County, bakeries and dessert shops (63), tire shops (63) and optometrists and eye clinics (61) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For bakeries and dessert shops, that ranks #435 of 1,889 scored counties.
Brown County is part of the Aberdeen area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for electricians (3.2 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (42% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Brown County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Brown County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 63 | #435 of 1,889 | 8 | 4.9 | $7.6M | 183 | 8 |
| Tire shops | 63 | #439 of 1,530 | 5 | 3.1 | $3.6M | 143 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 61 | #388 of 1,302 | 5 | 3.1 | $4.5M | 142 | 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 57 | #858 of 2,405 | 74 | 45.4 | $822K | 124 | 23 |
| Physical therapy | 54 | #599 of 1,422 | 6 | 3.7 | $3.7M | 155 | 8 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 54 | #843 of 2,063 | 13 | 8.0 | $4.7M | 126 | 8 |
| Grocery stores | 53 | #899 of 2,070 | 7 | 4.3 | $13.7M | 147 | 9 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 53 | #1,045 of 2,405 | 143 | 87.8 | $425K | 115 | 63 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 51 | #1,162 of 2,402 | 32 | 19.6 | $3M | 88 | 10 |
| Hair salons | 50 | #1,201 of 2,339 | 40 | 24.6 | $388K | 90 | 4 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 48 | #1,269 of 2,385 | 60 | 36.8 | $259K | 122 | 12 |
| Convenience stores | 46 | #1,266 of 2,261 | 16 | 9.8 | $6M | 76 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 46 | #1,305 of 2,222 | 22 | 13.5 | $2.8M | 91 | 30 |
| Spas and skin care | 44 | #1,084 of 1,769 | 14 | 8.6 | $1.1M | 127 | 4 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 39 | #963 of 1,334 | 8 | 4.9 | $1.7M | 84 | 4 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 38 | #1,005 of 1,461 | 6 | 3.7 | $2.2M | 87 | 5 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 38 | #1,353 of 1,886 | 20 | 12.3 | $1.1M | 113 | 18 |
| Pizza | 38 | #1,516 of 2,090 | 18 | 11.1 | $3.4M | 66 | 30 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 36 | #1,264 of 1,656 | 19 | 11.7 | $1.2M | 66 | 22 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 36 | #1,783 of 2,176 | 29 | 17.8 | Index only | 140 | 15 |
| Child care and preschools | 35 | #1,235 of 1,611 | 14 | 8.6 | $449K | 45 | 6 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 34 | #1,928 of 2,394 | 140 | 86.0 | $159K | 104 | 62 |
| Real estate | 33 | #1,962 of 2,229 | 37 | 22.7 | Index only | 138 | 29 |
| Gas stations | 32 | #1,886 of 2,358 | 29 | 17.8 | $1.6M | 66 | 22 |
| Property management | 31 | #775 of 910 | 6 | 3.7 | Index only | 67 | 5 |
| Auto repair and car care | 31 | #1,983 of 2,401 | 76 | 46.7 | $235K | 87 | 37 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 30 | #1,267 of 1,493 | 9 | 5.5 | $2.2M | 74 | 19 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 30 | #1,565 of 1,771 | 13 | 8.0 | $1.5M | 89 | 31 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 29 | #1,874 of 2,210 | 46 | 28.2 | $675K | 77 | 16 |
| Auto repair shops | 29 | #2,042 of 2,378 | 47 | 28.9 | $380K | 85 | 30 |
| Car washes and detailing | 28 | #1,252 of 1,451 | 11 | 6.8 | $1.6M | 64 | 4 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 26 | #1,818 of 2,087 | 37 | 22.7 | $840K | 66 | 16 |
| Gyms | 25 | #1,600 of 1,792 | 20 | 12.3 | $680K | 52 | 6 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 25 | #1,907 of 2,088 | 34 | 20.9 | $400K | 60 | 10 |
| Pet businesses | 25 | #2,009 of 2,200 | 26 | 16.0 | $509K | 58 | 12 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 24 | #737 of 777 | 6 | 3.7 | $2.3M | 56 | 6 |
| Chiropractors | 24 | #1,378 of 1,490 | 16 | 9.8 | $1.4M | 58 | 11 |
| Veterinarians | 23 | #1,331 of 1,485 | 9 | 5.5 | $1.5M | 54 | 7 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 21 | #1,243 of 1,327 | 10 | 6.1 | $1.8M | 58 | 12 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 15 | #1,685 of 1,707 | 19 | 11.7 | $2.2M | 47 | 22 |
| Home repair trades | 15 | #2,039 of 2,057 | 33 | 20.3 | $1.3M | 53 | 49 |
| Pet stores | 14 | #935 of 974 | 8 | 4.9 | $1.7M | 37 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | 9 | #1,151 of 1,160 | 13 | 8.0 | $3.3M | 27 | 24 |
| Insurance agencies | 8 | #2,261 of 2,272 | 45 | 27.6 | $610K | 49 | 45 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.5 | $561K | 83 | 4 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.5 | $3.9M | 232 | 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.8 | $6.5M | 63 | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.8 | $7.4M | 30 | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.2 | $15.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.2 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $15.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $19.4M | Too few | 12 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $31.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $17.8M | Too few | 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $42.7M | Too few | 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Brown County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $17.8M | $1,096 | 114 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $45.4M | $2,787 | 107 |
| Food away from home | $60.8M | $3,733 | 92 |
| Groceries | $95.9M | $5,888 | 93 |
| Personal care products and services | $15.5M | $953 | 95 |
| Child care and other personal services | $6.3M | $386 | 66 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $13.6M | $836 | 85 |
| Medical and dental services | $22.3M | $1,370 | 106 |
| Pets | $13.2M | $813 | 89 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $31.1M | $1,908 | 93 |
| Vehicle insurance | $27.4M | $1,685 | 86 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $42.7M | $2,621 | 87 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $19.4M | $1,191 | 84 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $221.9M | $13,624 | 82 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Brown County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 37,561−1.7% since 2020
- Households
- 16,285
- Median age
- 39.1
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 68%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 1,713 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 22
- Median household income
- $70,898+21.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $92,772
- Median home value
- $221,100
- Jobs located here
- 19,972
- Daytime population
- 38,336Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Brown County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Brown County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in South Dakota 8
- Edmunds County, SD4,048 people
- Spink County, SD6,219 people
- Faulk County, SD2,126 people
- Marshall County, SD4,344 people
- McPherson County, SD2,145 people
- Day County, SD5,437 people
- Clark County, SD3,917 people
- Hand County, SD3,140 people
Questions
How fast is Brown County, SD growing?
Population estimates put Brown County at 37,561 people in 2025, down 1.7% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 16,285 households. Median household income rose 21.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Brown County, SD spend?
Households in Brown County spend about $221.9M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $95.9M on groceries and $60.8M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Brown County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 114, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (66).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Brown County, SD?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Brown County are for bakeries and dessert shops (63), tire shops (63) and optometrists and eye clinics (61). Brown County ranks #435 of 1,889 scored counties for bakeries and dessert shops.
How does Brown County, SD compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Brown County is $70,898 a year, 12% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 1.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $221,100, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Brown County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for electricians (3.2 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (42% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 44 of the 56 business types have a score in Brown County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Brown County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in South Dakota · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Brown County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Brown County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.