United States › South Dakota › Rapid City CITY · 2020 ACS
Rapid City South Dakota · 74,703 residents · 55.1 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 74,703 people, Rapid City is a city in South Dakota. 3% of residents were born outside the United States. The average commute runs 17 minutes. 15,096 more people live here than in 2000. Owners hold 57% of the housing stock. The typical home is worth $194,100, having more than doubled since 2000.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 37.4
US median: 38.8
Average education
34% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 51%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 34.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
52K 59K 66K 73K 80K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Rapid City Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $53,760
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,978 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $19,445 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 22.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 12.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 2.9%
Transportation & warehousing 2.1%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.4%
Education & health services 1.3%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.3%
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$194,100
+51%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $85,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$855
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $496 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 59.3% in 2000
43.0% rent
2.40 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.40 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 3.3 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 83.2%(49,621)
Hispanic / Latino 2.8%(1,650)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 72.9%(54,444)
Hispanic / Latino 5.3%(3,962)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 34 more ancestry groups with data from 26.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 87.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 8.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 10.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 81.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 6.9% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 69.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 34.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 12.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 38.6%(12,520)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 12.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 25%(1,721)
Gulf War (1990s) 26.6%(1,833)
Share of the 6,894 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Compare Rapid City to nearby cities Frequently asked
How many people live in Rapid City, South Dakota? Rapid City, South Dakota has about 74,703 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Rapid City, South Dakota? The typical household in Rapid City, South Dakota earns about $53,760 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 $194,100, and the typical rent is about $855 a month.
How educated are people in Rapid City, South Dakota? About 33.5% 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 16.2% of people in Rapid City, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.
Has Rapid City, South Dakota grown since 1990? Yes, Rapid City, South Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 20,180 residents, a change of about 37 percent over that period.
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