Can A Licensed Practical Nurse Afford Rent in Brookings, SD?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.7% of gross income.

Brookings rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Dakota state estimate).

Brookings median rent
$1,100/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (South Dakota)
$53,495/yr
Rent as % of income
24.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,458, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,337/mo in rent. Brookings's median rent of $1,100 leaves roughly $237/mo of headroom under that threshold. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 42.8 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a licensed practical nurse salary

LPN pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. At the national-average LPN salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,520 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets stay in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These South Dakota cities have lower median rent than Brookings, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Aberdeen, SD
$1,049/mo (23.5% of income)
Vermillion, SD
$1,045/mo (23.4% of income)
Brandon, SD
$1,035/mo (23.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Brookings

View full rent data for Brookings, SD

Frequently asked questions

Can a licensed practical nurse afford rent in Brookings, SD?

Median rent in Brookings is $1,100 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in South Dakota earns about $53,495 a year, which makes that rent 24.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a licensed practical nurse afford in Brookings?

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in South Dakota (~$53,495/yr) supports up to $1,337 a month in rent. Brookings's current median rent is $1,100/mo, which leaves a $237/mo buffer.

How many hours does a licensed practical nurse work to cover rent in Brookings?

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in South Dakota works roughly 42.8 hours a month to cover Brookings's median rent of $1,100.

Where is rent cheaper than Brookings for a licensed practical nurse?

Nearby South Dakota cities with lower median rent include Aberdeen ($1,049/mo), Vermillion ($1,045/mo), Brandon ($1,035/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a licensed practical nurse salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived South Dakota state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Brookings, SD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.