Signals
Watertown
Brookings
Growth
89 · Top 1%
vs64 · Top 28%
Climate
51 · Bottom 4%
vs51 · Bottom 4%
Physical resilience
60 · Top 45%
vs70 · Top 28%
Housing affordability
97 · Top 41%
vs91 · Bottom 41%
Access
34 · Bottom 4%
vs62 · Bottom 24%
Economic stability
89 · Top 4%
vs72 · Top 23%
Measured values
| Metric | Watertown | Brookings | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 28,767 | 35,353 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $72,727 | $70,064 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $39,825 | $35,295 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 42/sq mi | 45/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $237,700 | $264,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $938 | $901 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.8% | 57.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.4% | 42.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.8% | 13.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 287 | 225 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 10.0 | 6.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 96.6% | -35.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 81°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 3°F | 4°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 22.7" | 25.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 98 mi | 55 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 15.4 min | 15.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.4 | 28.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Watertown
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, inland flooding.
Brookings
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, strong wind.
Full profiles: Watertown, SD Micro Area · Brookings, SD Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology