Rapid Valley, SD

Full City Profile · South Dakota · Lawrence County County

4.0 /5.0
A Great
7,153 Population 1,116/sq mi density
$85,217 Median Income $40,944 per capita
$226,300 Home Value $359,031 Zillow
$1,263 Median Rent 35.0% income on rent
47°F Avg Temperature
A
Overall
4.0 / 5.0
Strong
A+
Economy
4.5 / 5.0
$85,217 median income, 3.4% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$226,300 home value, $1,263/mo rent
C+
Education
2.6 / 5.0
20.1% bachelor's degree or higher

Rapid Valley, SD

At a Glance

Median Income
$85,217
13% above
$40,944 per capita
Home Value
$226,300
20% below
Zillow: $359,031
Median Rent
$1,263/mo
9% above
35.0% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
20.1%
40% below
91.8% high school+
Unemployment
3.4%
6% below
4.8% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
33.2%
3% above
15.3% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
47°F

How Rapid Valley Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Rapid Valley's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
113%
Home Value
80%
Rent
109%
Poverty
39%
Bachelor's
60%
Unemployment
94%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Rapid Valley a Good Place to Live?

A
4.0 / 5.0 - Great
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Rapid Valley residents earn a median household income of $85,217 , which is 13% above the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $40,944. The unemployment rate stands at 3.4% (6% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 4.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,630 business establishments, including 155 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Rapid Valley is $226,300 , 20% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $359,031. Median rent is $1,263/month, with 35.0% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 88.6 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1986.

Education

20.1% of adults in Rapid Valley hold a bachelor's degree or higher (40% below the national average). 91.8% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.8/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Rapid Valley has an average annual temperature of 47°F (8°C). Winters average 24°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 17.4 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population7,153
Median Age42.6 yrs
Density1,116/mi²
Male / Female56% / 45%
Foreign Born3.2%
Veterans12.4%

Economy

A+
Median Income$85,217
Per Capita$40,944
Unemployment3.4%
Poverty4.8%
County GDP$1,848M
Avg Weekly Wage$965

Housing

A+
Home Value$226,300
Rent$1,263
Ownership95.8%
Zillow$359,031
Housing Units3,138
Rent Burden35.0%

Health

Obesity33.2%
Diabetes9.4%
Smoking15.3%
Heart Disease5.3%
Premature Death6,603/100K

Climate

Avg Temp47°F
Rain17.4 in/yr
Elevation3,245 ft

Education

C+
Bachelor's+20.1%
High School+91.8%
Graduate+7.8%
School Score5.8/10

Community

2024 VoteR 64% / D 33%
Commute18 min
Broadband93.5%
Internet Speed159 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries4

Did You Know?

The median home in Rapid Valley was built in 1986.
The nearest airport is Rapid City Regional (4 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.472 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
12.6% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 159 Mbps.
There are 155 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 4 fatal vehicle crashes.