Real Estate Investing in Brookings, South Dakota

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

2 ZIP codes • Population: 26,203 • Brookings County

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in Brookings, SD? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (81/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.2% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Brookings, SD?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Citywide average

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

5.9% 5yr CAGR

5.0/ 5

Landlord Climate

Regulatory friendliness

🏦 30-yr Fixed Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS
Avg Investability
Avg Home Value $163,871
Avg Monthly Rent $1,135
ZIP Codes 2

Investing in Brookings Real Estate

Across Brookings's 2 ZIPs, the picture is sluggish: $164K median values, $1,135/mo rents, and a population that has faced real economic pressure.

unambiguously Brookings's aggregate rating of ★★★☆☆ reflects muted investor metrics across the board — weak rent growth, weak appreciation, and rising-vacancy pressure in multiple ZIPs.

Rents in Brookings at $1,135/mo have struggled to keep pace with cost increases, and vacancy has risen in pockets — a dynamic that compresses realized returns well below headline cap rates.

The 0% renter share in Brookings masks uneven tenant quality across ZIPs, and $N/AK median income leaves little cushion against economic shocks.

A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Best ZIP codes in Brookings, SD

Brookings is part of this metro. Every ZIP in it, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in Brookings, SD. Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in Brookings, SD?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Avg Home Value
$163,871
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,135
1% Rule
✗ Below
Landlord Friendly (SD)

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Brookings, SD metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
0%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

☀️ Warm Market — Brookings, SD metro
0
Days to pending
6.5%
Listings with price cuts
0.0%
Sale-to-list ratio
📅 Data as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly

🎓 Colleges & Universities in Brookings

2 Colleges 11,638 Students 137 Off-Campus Renters
C+
South Dakota State University
4-Year Public · 11,498 students
📍 ~137 students rent off-campus
D
Institute of Lutheran Theology
4-Year Private · 140 students

ZIP Codes in Brookings, SD

Screen every ZIP in Brookings

Filter Brookings’s ZIPs by cap rate, vacancy, appreciation and 30+ more criteria, and export your shortlist to CSV — with the Investor plan ($19/mo).

View Plans

Frequently Asked Questions About Brookings, SD

How much does a house cost in Brookings, SD?

In Brookings, SD the median home value sits at $164K. Against the broader SD market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Does Brookings, SD favor landlords or tenants?

Rental owners in Brookings, SD deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

How strong is tenant demand in Brookings, SD?

Working renters make up the core of the Brookings, SD tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

What do rentals go for in Brookings, SD?

Rental rates in Brookings, SD average $1,135/mo. Tenant demand and $164K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Brookings, SD?

Brookings, SD vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate Brookings, SD.

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.