Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The town, settled in 1883, counts 219 residents.
Only 2 of the 34 South Dakota towns we compare have a lower rent at the middle of the market than Bruce. Solomon Walters House is on the National Register of Historic Places. Bruce has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 262 in 1910, a peak of 394 in 1940, 210 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1968 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Bruce, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Bruce.
6.2% of Bruce residents live below the poverty line, below both the South Dakota town median (9.5%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). For most workers, Bruce is a place to come home to: only 3% work in town. The town’s average trip to work stands at 20 minutes. The top destinations are Brookings (45%), Sioux Falls (11%) and Volga (8%).
| Bruce | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 3% | 29% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 20 minutes | 17 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 6.2% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
A quarter of Bruce adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more. Adults 18 to 34 are 13% of residents (22% statewide); children under 18 are 31% of residents (24% statewide). This South Dakota town is growing: up 3.8% since 2020, to 219 residents (2025 estimate).
| Bruce | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 25% | 33% | 29% |
| Median age | 38.7 years | 39.5 years | 40.5 years |
42% women, 58% men
About 136 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±6.9 points). Across South Dakota, 49.2% of residents are women.
| Bruce | SD | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 15.2% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 16.2% | 11.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.2% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 6.9% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 18.6% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11% | 10.7% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 8.6% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 7.2% | 11% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 10% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 6.6% | 6.8% | 10.4% |
| High school | 44.2% | 29% | 26% |
| Some college | 12.7% | 19.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11% | 12.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 22.1% | 21.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 3.3% | 10% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 200, single groups can be off by several points
Its midsummer high is 82°F, against 85°F in South Dakota’s towns and 85°F across U.S. towns.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
In the year to September 2026, typical home values climbed 9.7%. Among households in Bruce, 77% own their home.
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
In Bruce, 13% of adults report frequent mental distress. On the CDC’s 26 measures, Bruce is ahead of South Dakota on 9 and behind on 1. Only 3 of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare have a lower share of adults who smoke cigarettes than Bruce. 20% of adults in Bruce binge drink; 30% sleep under 7 hours.
| Bruce | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 15% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 19% | 16% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 30% | 36% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 12% | 14% |
| What stands out | Bruce | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 7% | 12.7% |
| Fewer smokers | 11.3% | 15.2% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.3% | 9.2% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
For Bruce, the FEMA hazard score is 57 of 100. The town has had 9 paid flood insurance claims since 1984. Nearly half of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by tornadoes at 19%. Households in the town have drawn federal disaster aid in 2 declared disasters, most recently in 2019.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
2 within 15 miles of the center of Bruce
About 2 of every 100 Bruce residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
Where Bruce’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
City in South Dakota, United States
Bruce is a city in Brookings County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 210 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Bruce has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.