What are the schools like in Rapid City, MI?

Rapid City is served primarily by Kalkaska Public Schools. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.9:1.

What is the median household income in Rapid City?

The median household income in Rapid City, MI is $63,611 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.0%.

What is the weather like in Rapid City, MI?

Rapid City has an average high temperature of 25.5°F in January and 78.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 132.1 inches.

Rapid City, MI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Rapid City, MI affordable or expensive?

Rapid City's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Rapid City is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $187,000 and the median rent is $1,088 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Rapid City, MI?

Rapid City has a violent crime rate of 393.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 853.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Rapid City, MI a Good Place to Live?

Rapid City is a small town of 1,196 in Michigan, with a median household income of $63,611 and a 5.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Rapid City stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Rapid City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Rapid City city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 96.7

Rapid City's overall cost of living index is 96.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Rapid City costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Rapid City, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$187,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,088	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	90.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$63,611	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Rapid City's violent crime rate is 393.6 per 100,000 residents — 4% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

393.6 /100k

Property Crime

853.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Rapid City is served primarily by Kalkaska Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Rapid City, MI	National Avg
School District	Kalkaska Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	15.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Rapid City sees average highs of 25.5°F in January and 78.8°F in July, with 33.7 inches of annual precipitation and 132.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Rapid City, MI
Average High — January	25.5°F
Average High — July	78.8°F
Annual Precipitation	33.7"
Annual Snowfall	132.1"

Demographics

Metric	Rapid City, MI	National Avg
Population	1,196	—
Median Age	54.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	18.0%	22.2%
65 and over	30.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Alden, MI 3 mi Elk Rapids, MI 7 mi Kalkaska, MI 9 mi Bellaire, MI 10 mi Mancelona, MI 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Rapid City

Rapid City, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

49676

Rapid City vs Other Cities

Rapid City, MI vs Alden, MI Rapid City, MI vs Elk Rapids, MI Rapid City, MI vs Kalkaska, MI Rapid City, MI vs Bellaire, MI Rapid City, MI vs Mancelona, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rapid City, MI affordable or expensive?

Rapid City's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Rapid City roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $187,000 and median rent is $1,088/month.

What is the crime rate in Rapid City, MI?

Rapid City's violent crime rate is 393.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 853.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Rapid City?

Public schools in Rapid City are operated by Kalkaska Public Schools. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1. 15.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Rapid City, MI a good place to live?

Rapid City, MI has a population of 1,196, a median household income of $63,611, and an unemployment rate of 5.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Rapid City?

Rapid City averages 25.5°F in January and 78.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.7 inches with about 132.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Rapid City?

Rapid City, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49676.

What is the population of Rapid City?

The population of Rapid City, Michigan is 1,196 with a median age of 54.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Rapid City?

Key numbers for living in Rapid City: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $187,000, median household income $63,611, crime index 78 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Rapid City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.