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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Rapid City

South Dakota · 54,523 residents · 55.067 sq mi
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The short version

Rapid City has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $25,740. Population has declined 9% since 2000. Median home value is $56,500.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Younger
median age 30.9
US median: 33.0
More educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 13%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
54,523
−9%vs 2000
vs 59,607 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
30.9
−11%vs 2000
vs 34.8 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
52K59K66K73K80K1990201020202024Rapid City
202478K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 58.5%(4,636)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 98.1%(4,413)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.2%(3,901)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 196.8%(3,687)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 248.5%(4,651)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3418.1%(9,846)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4414.8%(8,090)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 548.7%(4,747)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 647.8%(4,233)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 746.4%(3,496)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 844%(2,162)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.2%(661)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$25,740
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $35,978 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$12,469
−36%vs 2000
vs $19,445 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
13.6%
+0.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 12.7% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$56,500
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $85,500 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$396
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $496 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
57.3%
−2.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 59.3% in 2000
42.7% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Rapid City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic83.2%(49,621)
Black0.9%(550)
Hispanic / Latino2.8%(1,650)
Asian1%(586)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic88.2%(48,091)
Black1.2%(668)
Hispanic / Latino2.2%(1,195)
Asian1%(521)
Other9.6%(5,243)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican4%(3,129)
Puerto Rican0.4%(327)
Colombian0.4%(310)
Honduran0.2%(160)
Spaniard0.2%(150)
Peruvian0.2%(130)
Nicaraguan0.1%(113)
Cuban0.1%(63)
Panamanian0.1%(50)
+ 2 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Filipino0.7%(529)
Chinese0.2%(127)
Japanese0.2%(125)
Korean0.1%(102)
Bangladeshi0.1%(71)
Thai0%(31)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.1%(51)
Samoan0.1%(39)
Ancestry
German27.8%(21,684)
Irish13.6%(10,581)
English11.5%(8,942)
Norwegian8.3%(6,456)
American2.9%(2,295)
Scottish2.9%(2,275)
French2.8%(2,204)
Swedish2.7%(2,137)
Italian2.6%(2,045)
Polish2.4%(1,871)
Dutch1.9%(1,492)
Danish1.4%(1,093)
+ 37 more ancestry groups with data
Czech1.3%(982)
Scotch-Irish1.1%(851)
Welsh0.9%(731)
Russian0.8%(623)
Greek0.5%(376)
Swiss0.4%(344)
Arab0.4%(289)
Finnish0.4%(277)
British0.4%(275)
Canadian0.3%(267)
Hungarian0.3%(255)
Austrian0.3%(221)
Lithuanian0.3%(198)
West Indian0.2%(162)
Lebanese0.2%(137)
Haitian0.2%(128)
Egyptian0.1%(109)
Portuguese0.1%(75)
Syrian0.1%(73)
Latvian0.1%(69)
Ukrainian0.1%(57)
Iranian0%(34)
Ethiopian0%(26)
Jamaican0%(26)
Romanian0%(25)
Iraqi0%(21)
Croatian0%(21)
Slovak0%(21)
Kenyan0%(21)
Slovene0%(17)
Somali0%(1)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest Mexican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
23.4%
−3.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 26.7% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
84.9%
−2.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 87.3% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
7.0%
−1.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 8.8% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.1 min
+59%vs 2000
vs 10.1 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married38.6%(12,520)
Married45.9%(14,867)
Widowed3.3%(1,078)
Divorced12.1%(3,931)
Women 15+
Never married29%(9,178)
Married44.2%(14,011)
Widowed9.7%(3,079)
Divorced17.1%(5,420)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Compare Rapid City to nearby cities

RAPID CITY VS
Box Elder
Income$73,008+184%
Home value$302,100+435%
Population13,936−83%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RAPID CITY VS
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Income$65,688+155%
Home value$346,200+513%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Rapid City, South Dakota?

Rapid City, South Dakota has about 54,523 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Rapid City, South Dakota?

The typical household in Rapid City, South Dakota earns about $25,740 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Rapid City, South Dakota expensive?

In Rapid City, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $56,500, and the typical rent is about $396 a month.

How educated are people in Rapid City, South Dakota?

About 23.4% of adults age 25 and over in Rapid City, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Rapid City, South Dakota?

About 13.6% of people in Rapid City, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →