Below Average CostSafer than AverageBelle Fourche School District 09-1
Narrow building in Belle Fourche · Bradleygee / CC BY-SA 2.0JOHNNY SPAULING CABIN, BELLE FOURCHE, BUTTE COUNTTY · JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD / CC BY-SA 3.0
Belle Fourche is a small town of 5,670 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $55,448
and a 9.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Belle Fourche stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Belle Fourche is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Belle Fourche 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: 92.6
Belle Fourche's overall cost of living index is 92.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Belle Fourche costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Belle Fourche, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$179,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$884
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
69.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$55,448
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Belle Fourche's violent crime rate is 151.1 per 100,000 residents
— 60% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
151.1 /100k
Property Crime
2300.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Belle Fourche is served primarily by Belle Fourche School District 09-1.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Belle Fourche, SD
National Avg
School District
Belle Fourche School District 09-1
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
85.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Belle Fourche sees average highs of 36.5°F in January
and 87.3°F in July,
with 18.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 42.2 inches of snow per year.
Belle Fourche's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Belle Fourche roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $179,300 and median rent is $884/month.
Belle Fourche's violent crime rate is 151.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2300.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Belle Fourche are operated by Belle Fourche School District 09-1.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1. 14.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Belle Fourche, SD has a population of 5,670, a median household income of $55,448, and an unemployment rate of 9.2%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Belle Fourche averages 36.5°F in January and 87.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 18.0 inches
with about 42.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Belle Fourche, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57717.
The population of Belle Fourche, South Dakota is 5,670 with a median age of 36.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Belle Fourche: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $179,300, median household income $55,448, crime index 68 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Belle Fourche side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
