Rapid City, SD
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Rapid City, South Dakota Summary

Life in Rapid City research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Rapid City over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Rapid City:

  • The population in Rapid City is 76,836.

  • The median home value in Rapid City is $358,222.

  • The median income in Rapid City is $65,712.

  • The cost of living in Rapid City is 96 which is 1.0x lower than the national average.

  • The median rent in Rapid City is $1,053.

  • The unemployment rate in Rapid City is 3.2%.

  • The poverty rate in Rapid City is 13.3%.

  • The average high in Rapid City is 59.3° and the average low is 35.1°.

Rapid City SnackAbility

5
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
7/10
Housing
8
Affordability
6
Diversity
8
Safety
3
Amenities
8.5
Education
8
Commute
9

Rapid City, SD Crime Report

Crime in Rapid City summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Rapid City. Key points include:

  • There were 3,652 total crimes in Rapid City in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Rapid City is 4,511.0 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Rapid City is 718.9 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Rapid City is 3,792.1 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Rapid City is 112.86% above the national average.

3,652
Total Crimes
112.86%
Above National Average

Crime In Rapid City Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Rapid City
/ 100k People
South Dakota
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 3,652 4,511.0 1,948.3 2,119.2
Violent Crime 582 718.9 362.3 359.0
Murder 5 6.2 4.7 5.0
Robbery 84 103.8 22.6 61.0
Aggravated Assault 383 473.1 283.6 256.0
Property Crime 3,070 3,792.1 1,586.0 1,760.0
Burglary 346 427.4 194.7 229.0
Larceny 2,418 2,986.8 1,195.5 1,272.0
Car Theft 306 378.0 195.9 259.0

Rapid City, SD Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Rapid City summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Rapid City. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around South Dakota. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Rapid City is 96 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Rapid City is 1.0x lower than the national average.

  • The median home value in Rapid City is $358,222.

  • The median income in Rapid City is $65,712.

96
Rapid City's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Lower Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Rapid City Comparison Table

Living Expense Rapid City South Dakota National Average
Overall 96 88 100
Services 100 95 100
Groceries 99 98 100
Health 97 100 100
Housing 103 78 100
Transportation 104 95 100
Utilities 91 89 100

Rapid City, SD Weather

  • The average high in Rapid City is 59.3° and the average low is 35.1°.

  • There are 42.3 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 18.6 inches of precipitation each year with 42.3 inches of snow.

StatRapid City
Average Annual High59.3
Average Annual Low35.1
Annual Precipitation Days42.3
Average Annual Precipitation18.6
Average Annual Snowfall42.3
59.3°
Average High
42.3
Days of Rain

Rapid City, SD Photos

Rapidcitycityscape
Source: Wikipedia User tochichi | CC BY-SA 2.0
Th And Main Streetsc Rapid City
Source: Public Domain
Rapid City From Rapid Valley
Source: Wikipedia User M. Mingda Liu | CC BY 3.0
Rcpl
Source: Wikipedia
Thomas Stafford
Source: Public Domain

1 Reviews & Comments About Rapid City

Overall User Rating
4.0
/5

HomeSnacks User - 2018-09-19 03:45:07.085049

Downtown is beautiful and there are plenty of things to do in the Black Hills. The schools are nice and the city is relatively safe. The scenery is absolutely beautiful.

Love the revamped downtown, hiking trails on 'M' hill and Dinosaur Park. Lots of things to do with kids. And when you really want to get out, just go out to the Black Hills or Badlands.

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Rankings for Rapid City in South Dakota

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Map Of Rapid City, SD

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Rapid City Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Rapid City

The current population in Rapid City is 76,836. The population has increased 16.2% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 76,836 1.6%
2022 75,632 2.3%
2021 73,942 -3.4%
2020 76,541 1.7%
2019 75,258 2.1%
2018 73,721 1.2%
2017 72,841 0.6%
2016 72,441 1.0%
2015 71,692 2.2%
2014 70,126 1.6%
2013 69,000 1.4%
2012 68,060 1.3%
2011 67,193 1.6%
2010 66,144 -

Race / Ethnicity in Rapid City

White
76.8% (59,003)
African American
1.5% (1,177)
American Indian
7.1% (5,491)
Asian
1.3% (982)
Hawaiian
0.0% (21)
Other
0.6% (449)
Two Or More
7.1% (5,425)
Hispanic
5.6% (4,288)

Rapid City is:

  • 76.8% White with 59,003 White residents.

  • 1.5% African American with 1,177 African American residents.

  • 7.1% American Indian with 5,491 American Indian residents.

  • 1.3% Asian with 982 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 21 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.6% Other with 449 Other residents.

  • 7.1% Two Or More with 5,425 Two Or More residents.

  • 5.6% Hispanic with 4,288 Hispanic residents.

Race Rapid City SD USA
White 76.8% 80.3% 58.2%
African American 1.5% 2.2% 12.0%
American Indian 7.1% 7.4% 0.5%
Asian 1.3% 1.4% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.6% 0.3% 0.5%
Two Or More 7.1% 3.9% 3.9%
Hispanic 5.6% 4.6% 19.0%

Gender in Rapid City

Female
49.3% (37,877)
Male
50.7% (38,959)
  • Rapid City is 49.3% female with 37,877 female residents.

  • Rapid City is 50.7% male with 38,959 male residents.

Gender Rapid City SD USA
Female 49.3% 49.3% 50.5%
Male 50.7% 50.7% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Rapid City for adults over 25

  • 2.0% of adults in Rapid City completed < 9th grade.

  • 4.0% of adults in Rapid City completed 9-12th grade.

  • 26.0% of adults in Rapid City completed high school / ged.

  • 22.0% of adults in Rapid City completed some college.

  • 10.0% of adults in Rapid City completed associate's degree.

  • 23.0% of adults in Rapid City completed bachelor's degree.

  • 8.0% of adults in Rapid City completed master's degree.

  • 3.0% of adults in Rapid City completed professional degree.

  • 2.0% of adults in Rapid City completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
2.0% (1,536)
9-12th Grade
4.0% (3,073)
High School / GED
26.0% (19,977)
Some College
22.0% (16,903)
Associate's Degree
10.0% (7,683)
Bachelor's Degree
23.0% (17,672)
Master's Degree
8.0% (6,146)
Professional Degree
3.0% (2,305)
Doctorate Degree
2.0% (1,536)
Education Rapid City SD USA
< 9th Grade 2.0% 3.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 4.0% 4.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 26.0% 29.0% 26.0%
Some College 22.0% 20.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 10.0% 12.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 23.0% 22.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 8.0% 7.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 3.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 2.0% 1.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Rapid City, South Dakota

  • 3.9% of households in Rapid City earn Less than $10,000.

  • 4.9% of households in Rapid City earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 8.9% of households in Rapid City earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 8.4% of households in Rapid City earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 12.1% of households in Rapid City earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 17.7% of households in Rapid City earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 14.7% of households in Rapid City earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 15.5% of households in Rapid City earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 6.0% of households in Rapid City earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 7.8% of households in Rapid City earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
3.9% (297,381)
$10,000 to $14,999
4.9% (377,917)
$15,000 to $24,999
8.9% (686,598)
$25,000 to $34,999
8.4% (646,931)
$35,000 to $49,999
12.1% (931,811)
$50,000 to $74,999
17.7% (1,358,771)
$75,000 to $99,999
14.7% (1,132,309)
$100,000 to $149,999
15.5% (1,188,564)
$150,000 to $199,999
6.0% (462,059)
$200,000 or more
7.8% (601,254)
Income Rapid City SD USA
Less than $10,000 3.9% 4.0% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 4.9% 3.4% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 8.9% 7.1% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 8.4% 7.5% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 12.1% 11.9% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 17.7% 17.8% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 14.7% 14.6% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 15.5% 18.2% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 6.0% 8.1% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 7.8% 7.4% 12.6%

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