Ivan Cobel House · Photo: Jatakuck · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Brookings is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns
Brookings differs from South Dakota on 17 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 12 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Brookings. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Brookings
Stroke and heart disease are less common in Brookings
Brookings runs below South Dakota on eight chronic conditions, most of all stroke (2.3% vs 3.5%), heart disease (4.5% vs 6.8%) and arthritis (17.1% vs 25.8%). A young population is part of it: only 12% of residents are 65 or older (South Dakota 18%). Conditions ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Brookings doesn’t win on
22.1% of adults binge drink, vs 18.8% across South Dakota, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Brookings is an active town
Only 18.7% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.1% across South Dakota. Habits ↓
Brookings has a top-rated hospital
Brookings Health System is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the South Dakota figure falls outside Brookings’ likely range.
What’s behind Brookings’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Brookings is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns, #12 of 35 in South Dakota. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 97% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 48%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Brookings’ median household income is $63,493; among the 9,643 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$79K), it’s healthier than 98%, about where its income would put it.
Most South Dakota towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Brookings is healthier than 68% of graded towns, against 84% nationally.
Out of every 100 Brookings adults…
Brookings runs below SD on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Brookings residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across South Dakota. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with South Dakota
Share of adults, with the South Dakota figure marked.
6.2 miles of trails across 22 parks and preserves
Care in and near Brookings
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Brookings, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Brookings; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Brookings adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Dakota.
How Brookings adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Brookings runs above South Dakota.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Brookings and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookings | A− | 35.9% | 7.8% | 10.8% | CDC place |
| Brookings Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Aurora Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Medary Township | A− | 37.1% | 8.9% | 11.4% | ZIP codes |
| Trenton Township | — | — | — | — |
Brookings Township, Aurora Township and Trenton Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Brookings adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Brookings
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Brookings is better than South Dakota on 12 and worse on 5; on the rest, the South Dakota figure falls inside Brookings’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Brookings | SD | U.S. | vs SD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14%12.2–16 | 17.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10%8.8–11.3 | 12.3% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%15.2–19.4 | 15.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.9%31.6–40.3 | 35.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 7.8%6.8–8.8 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 23.7%21.5–26.1 | 33.3% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 26.5%24–29.1 | 34% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 17.1%15.5–18.9 | 25.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.1%9–11.3 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.4%5.8–6.9 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.5%4–5 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.8%4.2–5.4 | 6.7% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.3%2.1–2.6 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.5%9.4–13.7 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.8%9.2–12.5 | 15.2% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 18.7%16–21.6 | 24.1% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 22.1%19.2–25.1 | 18.8% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.4%26.9–34.1 | 29.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.8%6.5–9.4 | 8.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 73%69.7–76.1 | 76.5% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.8%65.9–71.6 | 69.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 77.8%75.2–80.3 | 84.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69%66.6–71.4 | 75.9% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68%64.4–71.4 | 65.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.1%73.8–83.8 | 76.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.6%21.6–27.8 | 21.2% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.4%23.3–29.9 | 30.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.2%7.2–9.4 | 12.9% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.4%13.4–17.5 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6%5.3–6.7 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4%3.6–4.4 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.7%6.7–8.7 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.6%2.4–2.9 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the South Dakota figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Brookings
Is Brookings a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Brookings is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #12 of 35 in South Dakota. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 98%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Brookings?
CDC estimates 35.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.6% and 40.3%, against 35.9% across South Dakota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Brookings?
Brookings Health System in Brookings, 1.0 miles in a straight line from Brookings’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Brookings have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.5–9.4%), against 8.8% across South Dakota.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Brookings more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Brookings.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The South Dakota figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.