Below Average CostVery SafeRapid City Area School District 51-4
Median Income
$68,718
household / year
Median Home Value
$234,100
owner-occupied
Median Rent
N/A
gross / month
Cost of Living
90
national avg = 100
Is Blackhawk, SD a Good Place to Live?
Blackhawk is a small town of 2,930 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $68,718
and a 6.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Blackhawk stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Blackhawk is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Blackhawk 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: 90.3
Blackhawk's overall cost of living index is 90.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Blackhawk costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Blackhawk, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$234,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
N/A
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
96.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$68,718
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Blackhawk's violent crime rate is 123.5 per 100,000 residents
— 68% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
123.5 /100k
Property Crime
1034.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Blackhawk is served primarily by Rapid City Area School District 51-4.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.0:1
.
Metric
Blackhawk, SD
National Avg
School District
Rapid City Area School District 51-4
—
Elementary Schools
14
—
Middle Schools
5
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Blackhawk sees average highs of 36.9°F in January
and 83.6°F in July,
with 18.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 36.1 inches of snow per year.
Blackhawk's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Blackhawk roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $234,100 and median rent is N/A/month.
Blackhawk's violent crime rate is 123.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1034.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Blackhawk are operated by Rapid City Area School District 51-4.
The district has 14 elementary, 5 middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.0:1. 15.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Blackhawk, SD has a population of 2,930, a median household income of $68,718, and an unemployment rate of 6.4%.
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.
Blackhawk averages 36.9°F in January and 83.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 18.8 inches
with about 36.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Blackhawk, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57718.
The population of Blackhawk, South Dakota is 2,930 with a median age of 42.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Blackhawk: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $234,100, median household income $68,718, crime index 39 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Blackhawk side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.