The Town FilesBrandon, South Dakota
City in Minnehaha County · population 11,048 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $336,600
- Household income
- $110,806
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 36.7
Brandon is a city of 11,048 people in Minnehaha County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $336,600, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks more upscale than 97% of South Dakota towns, better for families than 90% of South Dakota towns, more vibrant than 90% of South Dakota towns.
How Brandon ranks
Percentile among South Dakota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Dakota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Brandon is worth $336,600, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $110,806, which is more affordable than 38% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $976 a month. 80.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brandon | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $336,600 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $976 | $785 |
| Median household income | $110,806 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 80.1% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Brandon
| People | Brandon | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.8% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 32.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.9% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.4% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.7% | — |
| Work from home | 18.8% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 18.4 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 86.7% |
Weather in Brandon
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 8.5°F. About 27.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.0 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brandon since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 19, 1954 about 7.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 153 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on August 5, 2021.
Severe weather in Minnehaha County since 1996
Minnehaha County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4807: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| June 29, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4656: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
| November 18, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4469: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Minnehaha County
Minnehaha County had 138,556 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,100 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Brandon itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Public schools in Brandon
5 public schools with 4,103 students, about 17.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Valley High School - 01 | 9-12 | 1,356 | 20.5 |
| Brandon Valley Intermediate - 07 | 5-6 | 785 | 17.1 |
| Brandon Valley Middle School - 02 | 7-8 | 719 | 16.7 |
| Brandon Elementary - 03 | PK-4 | 681 | 14.8 |
| Robert Bennis Elementary - 05 | K-4 | 562 | 17.0 |
Towns near Brandon
- Sioux Falls, SD8.2 mi · 192,517 people · home $292,400
- Harrisburg, SD12.7 mi · 6,732 people · home $312,200
- Tea, SD15.3 mi · 5,598 people · home $351,100
- Dell Rapids, SD17.3 mi · 3,996 people · home $301,700
- Hartford, SD17.7 mi · 3,354 people · home $257,700
- Luverne, MN19.0 mi · 4,946 people · home $208,000
- Canton, SD20.0 mi · 3,066 people · home $191,400
- Rock Rapids, IA23.8 mi · 2,611 people · home $206,700
Brandon questions
Is Brandon, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brandon scores better for retirees than 28% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 15%. 14.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.7).
How much does a house cost in Brandon?
The median owner-occupied home in Brandon is valued at $336,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $110,806, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $976 a month.
What is the weather like in Brandon?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 8.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 27.9 inches of precipitation a year and 49.0 inches of snow.
Does Brandon get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brandon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 19, 1954. The typical South Dakota town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)