Median Age
40 Years
Largest Age Group
25-34 Years
Approximately 14% of Residents
Under 20
23%
Over 65
21%
Rapid City, SD
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,203
Population
82,477
Renter Mix
42% Rent
Discover rich history and unique attractions in this mountainous city
Affordable
•
Tourism
•
Family-Friendly
Located at the entrance to the Black Hills, Rapid City combines outdoor recreation with urban living. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,181, and housing options span from downtown communities to suburban neighborhoods. The western part of the city, built along the Red Valley between the Black Hills foothills and Dakota Hogback, features hillside residences, while the eastern section extends through Rapid Creek's valley. Notable residential areas include the northern corridor near Interstate 90 and the southern neighborhoods overlooking the Black Hills.
Downtown Rapid City showcases public art through Art Alley and the City of Presidents tour, which displays bronze statues of U.S. presidents throughout the streets. The city offers easy access to Dinosaur Park, Story Book Island, and the Journey Museum and Gardens. Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Badlands National Park are all within driving distance. The presence of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and Ellsworth Air Force Base contributes to the community's diversity. Rent prices have remained stable, with minimal changes of 0.1% to 0.6% across different unit sizes, making the area an affordable option for renters.
Explore the City
It's common to see people walking their dog at Sioux Park in Rapid City.
The famous Mount Rushmore is just a short drive from Ashland Heights.
West Rapid City offers a small town suburban homes like foursquare and craftsman's.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$61,836
Average: $80,755
Education
24,690
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
42,119
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Rapid City has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
42%
Non-Renters
58%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
24%
Other Education
76%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Rapid City, SD is $899 for a studio, $1,203 for one bedroom, $1,342 for two bedrooms, and $1,610 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Rapid City has increased by 1.5% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,203/month
718 Sq Ft
House
$2,072/month
1,660 Sq Ft
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Rapid City, SD is 1.3% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Rapid City is 3.0% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $898 - $1,615. You can expect to pay 3.0% more for groceries, 11.8% less for utilities, and 0.5% more for transportation.
Compare Cities
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Rapid City, SD is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
40
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Moderately Bikeable
Bikeability
60
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
461 Students
Public
Grades K-5
365 Students
Public
Grades K-5
406 Students
Public
Grades K-5
266 Students
Public
Grades K-5
464 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
660 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
612 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
553 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
513 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
664 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,686 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,768 Students
Rapid City Online High School - 92
Public
Grades 9-12
53 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
356 Students
Public
Grades PK-12
33 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Museum of Geology
- The Journey Museum
- The Outdoor Campus - West
- Reptile Gardens
- Black Hills Caverns
Airports
- Rapid City Regional
Colleges
Top Apartments in Rapid City
Houses for Rent in Rapid City
Property Management Companies in Rapid City, SD
Lloyd Companies
-
69
Communities
-
9,808
Units
-
13
Cities
7 Communities in Rapid City
Equity REM
-
22
Communities
-
3,489
Units
-
13
Cities
7 Communities in Rapid City
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.
-
52
Communities
-
5,560
Units
-
27
Cities
2 Communities in Rapid City
CSM Corporation
-
15
Communities
-
2,563
Units
-
12
Cities
2 Communities in Rapid City
Cresten Property Management
-
17
Communities
-
2,068
Units
-
2
Cities
2 Communities in Rapid City
Elmington Capital
-
154
Communities
-
25,044
Units
-
80
Cities
1 Community in Rapid City
Living in Rapid City
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.