City profile · South Dakota · Census ACS 2023

Lower Brule, SD

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Lower Brule - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

777
Residents
$31,667
Median income
$22,500
Median home
$940
Median rent (state)

Lower Brule - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Lower Brule places in the 3rd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

3rd
percentile, household income
0th
percentile, home value
10th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Lower Brule, SD

South Dakota's Lower Brule is a small town, with 777 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $31,667 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 59.0%. Typical homes in Lower Brule are valued around $22,500, and the median resident age is 22.0 years. Educational attainment runs 12.0% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 39.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in South Dakota run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts South Dakota at 88.6 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $940 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in South Dakota run around $200, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 26.5 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

777 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Dakota

Median Household Income

$31,667 /yr

Poverty 59.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.6 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Dakota average

How does Lower Brule compare to other US cities?

Here's how Lower Brule stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 3% higher than other cities
Home value 0% pricier than other cities
Median rent 10% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Lower Brule's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in South Dakota, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

3rdIncome percentile

3rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Lower Brule's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$22,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 100% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Lower Brule $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Lower Brule, SD Lower Brule, SD's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lower Brule, SD-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Lower Brule, SD median $31,667/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Lower Brule, SD's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Lower Brule, SD. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 12.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 59.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 39.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
777
Median Income
$31,667
Median Home Value
$22,500
Median Age
22.0
Poverty Rate
59.0%
Labor force participation
39.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
12.0%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
70.0%
Carpool
12.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.0%
Work from Home
6.0%
Other
9.5%

Based on 200 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for South Dakota - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$65
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$200
estimated/month

Estimates reflect South Dakota state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a South Dakota state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Lower Brule sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.6
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$940/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
26.5 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Dakota

Wonderland Homes
782 people
Lake Norden
769 people
Bryant
761 people
Castlewood
756 people
Scotland
800 people
Woonsocket
753 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lower Brule's 777 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Courtland, AL
777 people
Rockport, AR
777 people
Bradenton Beach, FL
777 people
La Belle, MO
777 people
Boswell, OK
777 people
West Milton, PA
777 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lower Brule's $31,667 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Jacksons' Gap, AL
$31,667 median income
Louann, AR
$31,667 median income
Conkling Park, ID
$31,667 median income
Burr Oak, KS
$31,667 median income
Fort Dodge, KS
$31,667 median income
Rowland, NC
$31,667 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lower Brule, SD Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Lower Brule, SD - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 6.8% 91.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.3% White 6.8% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 91.8% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.4% Two or more races 0.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Lower Brule compares to nearby South Dakota cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Lower Brule (this city) 777 $31,667
Wonderland Homes 782 $88,500
Lake Norden 769 $71,923
Bryant 761 $60,592
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lower Brule, SD?

What is the population of Lower Brule, SD? +

777 people live in Lower Brule, SD according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Lower Brule, SD? +

Median annual household income in Lower Brule runs $31,667, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lower Brule? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Lower Brule; the closest available measure is the South Dakota state average, a cost of living index of 88.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within South Dakota vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Lower Brule, SD? +

The median home value in Lower Brule is $22,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.