City profile
Rapid City, SD
Gateway to the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore and Badlands.
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
$360,000
Typical monthly housing
$2,333
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
96
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
301 mi to Denver International Airport (DEN)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Leans Republican · 35% Democratic / 63% Republican
Demographics (Census ACS)
Population (2024)
77,946
Growth since 2019
+3.6%
Median age
39.1
Residents 65+
20.6%
Median household income
$70,870
Income growth since 2019
+35.4%
Black household income
$25,250
Home ownership
62.9%
Poverty rate
12.5%
Poverty rate, 65+
9.9%
Race & ethnicity: Black 1.2% · White 76.3% · Hispanic 6.1% · Asian 1.3% · Other 15.1%
Crime (per 100,000 residents, 2025)
Violent crime
767 · 133% above the national average
Property crime
3,655 · 136% above the national average
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, Rapid City Police Department. State average: violent 327, property 1,430.
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
- Black Hills & Mount Rushmore
- No state income tax
- Outdoor recreation
Trade-offs
- Cold winters
- Very small Black community
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.