Box Elder is a small city of 11,905 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $71,532
and a 5.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Box Elder stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Box Elder is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Box Elder 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
Box Elder's overall cost of living index is 90.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Box Elder costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Box Elder, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$264,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,217
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
51.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$71,532
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Box Elder's violent crime rate is 349.6 per 100,000 residents
— 8% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
349.6 /100k
Property Crime
1192.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Box Elder is served primarily by Douglas School District 51-1.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Box Elder, SD
National Avg
School District
Douglas School District 51-1
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
28.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Box Elder sees average highs of 36.0°F in January
and 86.4°F in July,
with 17.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 48.5 inches of snow per year.
Box Elder's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Box Elder roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $264,600 and median rent is $1,217/month.
Box Elder's violent crime rate is 349.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1192.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Box Elder are operated by Douglas School District 51-1.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1. 28.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Box Elder, SD has a population of 11,905, a median household income of $71,532, and an unemployment rate of 5.0%.
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.
Box Elder averages 36.0°F in January and 86.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 17.4 inches
with about 48.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Box Elder, SD is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 57719, 57706.
The population of Box Elder, South Dakota is 11,905 with a median age of 28.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Box Elder: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $264,600, median household income $71,532, crime index 78 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Box Elder side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
