© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Brandon.
About
Life in Brandon
Brandon is a community of 10,996 people in South Dakota. The median household income is $110,806, median rent runs about $976 per month, and median home values are around $336,600. Unemployment is low at 1.8%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Brandon at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
1.4%
Foreign-Born
3.7%
Broadband Internet
95.8%
of households
Population Growth
+2.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.7% foreign-born, most often from Other Eastern Europe
Who lives in Brandon: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Brandon, the largest foreign-born group is from Other Eastern Europe (18.1%), and 2.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
32.4%
of residents
65 and Older
14.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
41.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
22.1%
of households
Married Couples
61.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.68
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for SD
Rent, home values, and income in Brandon
In Brandon, home values are 31% above the SD average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
35.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
9.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
90.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,886
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
80.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2001
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $392,989 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for SD
Unemployment in Brandon and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Minnehaha County, which includes Brandon, is close to the SD average.
Unemployment rate
Brandon: Minnehaha County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Minnehaha County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Brandon Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Sioux Falls, SD metro area
Commute18.4 min avg
How Brandon residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Brandon, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 89% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 mi
Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD)
Small hub742k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 86% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Brandon runs 86% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
46.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
333.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Brandon Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 37 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
89.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Minnehaha County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Minnehaha County, which includes Brandon, the most common type is winter weather, with 37 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 27 | Winter Weather | $939,000 |
| 2023 | 34 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2022 | 35 | Hail | $20,000 |
| 2021 | 26 | Drought | $1.1M |
| 2020 | 25 | Winter Weather | $5,000 |
| 2019 | 48 | Flood | $11.4M |
| 2018 | 52 | Winter Weather | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Minnehaha County, county-wide
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Minnehaha County, which includes Brandon, is typically good — 294 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
294
per year
Moderate Days
66
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Minnehaha County, county-wide
Climate83°F summers, 12°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Brandon has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and very cold winters (avg low 12°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/38°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
30°/12°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
31.0"
Annual Snowfall
49.0"
Hot Days/Year
15
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
162
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
112
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27°F | 9°F | 0.60" |
| Feb | 32°F | 13°F | 0.83" |
| Mar | 45°F | 24°F | 1.60" |
| Apr | 59°F | 36°F | 3.00" |
| May | 71°F | 48°F | 3.86" |
| Jun | 81°F | 59°F | 4.23" |
| Jul | 85°F | 63°F | 3.25" |
| Aug | 83°F | 61°F | 3.34" |
| Sep | 76°F | 52°F | 2.73" |
| Oct | 61°F | 38°F | 2.36" |
| Nov | 45°F | 25°F | 1.22" |
| Dec | 32°F | 13°F | 0.83" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Brandon
Uninsured
4.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Brandon's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Avera Mckennan Hospital & University Health Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.7 mi away · Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 7.8 mi away · Sioux Falls
Sanford Usd Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9 mi away · Sioux Falls
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Brandon
Brandon's student/teacher ratio is 17.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 41.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
41.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Brandon (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 2,310 students · in-state tuition $8,365 · 61% graduate · median earnings $51,280 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,965 students · in-state tuition $41,768 · 75% graduate · median earnings $61,271 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,218 students · in-state tuition $22,900 · 64% graduate · median earnings $59,404 (10 yrs after entry)
California Intercontinental University
7.8 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 151 students · 25% graduate
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pipestone National Monument, 32 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Brandon
Brandon has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pipestone National Monument (32 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pipestone National Monument
National Monument
32 mi awayMissouri National Recreational River
National Recreational River
75 mi awayPublic Libraries in Brandon
Brandon Branch-Siouxland Libraries
305 S Splitrock Blvd, Brandon
Cities Near Brandon
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Brandon?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Brandon FAQ
Is Brandon, South Dakota affordable?⌄
Brandon's median rent is $976/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $110,806/year. Median home value is $336,600.
Is Brandon, South Dakota safe?⌄
Brandon's violent crime rate was 46 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 334 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Brandon, South Dakota?⌄
Minnehaha County, which includes Brandon, has an unemployment rate of 2.0%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Brandon, South Dakota?⌄
The cost of living in Brandon is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $976/month and median household income is $110,806/year. The median home value is $336,600. About 35% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Brandon, South Dakota?⌄
The average commute in Brandon is 18 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from