City profile
Box Elder, SD
Pennington County · Population 12,902
Box Elder is a town in Pennington County, SD with about 12,902 residents and a typical home value near $302,000. It is 8 miles from Rapid City, SD, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Four seasons
Winter avg
24°F
Summer avg
72°F
Sunny days / yr
220
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$302,100
Typical monthly housing
$1,918
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
90
Taxes
- Property tax
- 1.10%
- State income tax (top)
- None
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Not taxed
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 6.11%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively Low · county score 79/100
Top hazards: Wildfire, Hail, Winter weather
Nearest major airport
305 mi to Denver International Airport (DEN)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Leans Republican · 35% Democratic / 62% Republican
Community
Population
12,902
Black population
3.6%
County
Pennington County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸SD is gaining retirees — a sign of strong retiree services and community
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: extreme cold, hail
Highlights
- About 12,902 residents
- Typical home value about $302,000
- 8 miles from Rapid City, SD
Trade-offs
- Smaller community with fewer local amenities
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.