Moving to Rapid City
What you need to know before relocating to Rapid City, South Dakota. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.
Is Rapid City a Good Place to Live?
Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Rapid City compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include rent ($1,125/mo) is below the national average; low unemployment rate (1.8%) signals a strong job market; high school graduation rate of 91%.
Rapid City at a Glance
Cost of Living in Rapid City
The median rent in Rapid City is $1,125/month, while the median home value is $321,600. With a median household income of $77,164, residents spend roughly 17% of monthly income on rent.
Overall, the Rapid City metro area is classified as affordable compared to other US metros.
Job Market
Rapid City has a median household income of $77,164, which is 3% above the national median. The local unemployment rate is 1.8%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.
Safety in Rapid City
The violent crime rate in Rapid City is 350 per 100,000 residents, which is 8% below the national average of 380.
Property crime rate: 1618 per 100,000 residents.
Education in South Dakota
South Dakota has a high school graduation rate of 91% and per-pupil spending of $13,636/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1.
36% of South Dakota adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Healthcare Access
South Dakota has 218 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 6.2% uninsured rate, and 4.6 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in South Dakota is 78.1 years.
Pros and Cons of Living in Rapid City
+Pros
- ✓Rent ($1,125/mo) is below the national average
- ✓Low unemployment rate (1.8%) signals a strong job market
- ✓High school graduation rate of 91%
- ✓Low uninsured rate (6.2%) and good healthcare access
-Cons
- ✗Longer-than-average commute (70829 min)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rapid City a good place to live?⌄
Rapid City, South Dakota has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($1,125/mo) is below the national average and low unemployment rate (1.8%) signals a strong job market. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.
What is the cost of living in Rapid City?⌄
The median rent in Rapid City is $1,125/month and the median home value is $321,600. The median household income is $77,164. Overall the metro is considered affordable.
Is Rapid City safe?⌄
Rapid City has a violent crime rate of 350 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.
What is the job market like in Rapid City?⌄
Rapid City has an unemployment rate of 1.8%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $77,164.