At $1,166/mo, rent takes about 13% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,166 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
30% of the median household income ($110,806) is $2,770 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,800).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Brandon. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Brandon, SD is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 41.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Brandon, SD has changed in 5 years
Median household income rose from $96,367 to $110,806 between 2021 and 2024, a 15.0% shift. The population has grown by 2.3% since 2021, moving from about 10,745 residents to roughly 10,996. Renters now make up 19.9% of households, compared with 22.3% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 41.9% of adults here, versus 39.1% in 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Brandon on your salary?
At $1,166/mo, how Brandon rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Brandon rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Brandon. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Brandon
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Brandon is $1,166/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $780/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,070/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $920/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,470/mo.
At 13% of local median household income ($110,806/yr), Brandon ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Brandon?
Is rent going up or down in Brandon?
How does Brandon rent compare to other cities in South Dakota?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Brandon?
At $1,166/mo, rent takes ~13% of Brandon's median household income ($110,806/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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