Below Average CostHigh CrimeRapid City Area School District 51-4
Rapid City Skyline (2022) · WeaponizingArchitecture / CC BY-SA 4.0Journey Museum and Learning Center · Charles G. Haacker / CC BY 2.0Dahl Arts Center Rapid City · WeaponizingArchitecture / CC BY-SA 4.0Dakota Mill and Grain facility in Rapid City, SD · Quintin Soloviev / CC BY 4.0
Rapid City is a mid-sized city of 75,632 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $62,784
and a 3.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Rapid City stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. 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: 90.3
Rapid City's overall cost of living index is 90.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Rapid City costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Rapid City, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$244,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$975
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
61.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$62,784
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Rapid City's violent crime rate is 718.9 per 100,000 residents
— 89% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
718.9 /100k
Property Crime
3792.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Rapid City is served primarily by Rapid City Area School District 51-4.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.0:1
.
Metric
Rapid City, 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
35.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Rapid City sees average highs of 36.5°F in January
and 84.4°F in July,
with 20.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 53.7 inches of snow per year.
Rapid City's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Rapid City roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $244,500 and median rent is $975/month.
Rapid City's violent crime rate is 718.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3792.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Rapid City 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. 35.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Rapid City, SD has a population of 75,632, a median household income of $62,784, and an unemployment rate of 3.4%.
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.
Rapid City averages 36.5°F in January and 84.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 20.0 inches
with about 53.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Rapid City, SD is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 57701, 57702, 57703.
The population of Rapid City, South Dakota is 75,632 with a median age of 38.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Rapid City: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $244,500, median household income $62,784, crime index 186 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. 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.
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