At a Glance
Median Income
$65,438
$31,757 per capita
Home Value
$212,500
Zillow: $371,105
Median Rent
$987/mo
37.2% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
13.0%
94.6% high school+
Unemployment
8.0%
8.4% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
36.4%
15.8% smoking rate
How Rapid City Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Rapid City's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Rapid City a Good Place to Live?
B
3.4 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Rapid City residents earn a median household income of $65,438 , which is 13% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $31,757. The unemployment rate stands at 8.0% (122% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 8.4% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 388 business establishments, including 32 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Rapid City is $212,500 , 25% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $371,105. Median rent is $987/month, with 37.2% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 96.2 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1981.
Education
13.0% of adults in Rapid City hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(61% below the national average).
94.6% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.5/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Rapid City has an average annual temperature of 43°F (6°C).
Winters average 18°F in January while summers reach 67°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 33.7 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population1,315
Median Age51.6 yrs
Density243/mi²
Male / Female52% / 48%
Foreign Born0.5%
Veterans12.9%
Economy
B
Median Income$65,438
Per Capita$31,757
Unemployment8.0%
Poverty8.4%
County GDP$839M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,162
Housing
A+
Home Value$212,500
Rent$987
Ownership86.3%
Zillow$371,105
Housing Units883
Rent Burden37.2%
Health
Obesity36.4%
Diabetes9.3%
Smoking15.8%
Heart Disease5.7%
Premature Death9,139/100K
Climate
Avg Temp43°F
Rain33.7 in/yr
Elevation617 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+13.0%
High School+94.6%
Graduate+7.3%
School Score4.5/10
Community
2024 VoteR 71% / D 28%
Commute25 min
Broadband93.6%
Internet Speed103 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries1
Did You Know?
The median home in Rapid City was built in 1981.
The nearest airport is Gaylord Regional (31 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.429 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
20.6% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 103 Mbps.
The county recorded 4 fatal vehicle crashes.