Rapid Valley
Rapid Valley is a city of 6,975 people in South Dakota. 92% of homes are owner-occupied. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 20% of adults. The median age is 43.2, about 4 years above the US median. The foreign-born share is 5%. Poverty is uncommon here, at 4.5% of locals.
What stands out about Rapid Valley
What changed most since 1990
- Median age27.7 → 43.2 (+15.5 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
- Homes owned by their occupants80.7% → 92.3% (+11.6 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts
- Median home value (2024 dollars)$117,123 → $255,500 (+118%)US over the same years: +67%
Among the 26 cities and towns in the Rapid City metro
- 7th in household income$83,208
- 14th in share with a bachelor's degree19.8%
- 14th in home value$255,500
- 8th in diversity score49.6
Its weight in Pennington County
Rapid Valley's population equals 6.1% of Pennington County's. Its number of residents living in poverty equals 2.4% of the county's. Its number of foreign-born residents equals 12% of the county's.
Population & growth
Income & economy
Housing
Race & ethnicity
Detailed origins & ancestry
+ 13 more ancestry groups with data
Education
Commute & transportation
Work & employment
People & community
Health coverage
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%.
Veterans
Share of the 675 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.
Rapid Valley, decade by decade
| Year | Population | Median household income | Median home value | Bachelor's degree+ | Diversity score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5,968 | $60,638 | $117,123 | 9.4% | 21.1 |
| 2000 | 7,043 | $72,531 | $138,446 | 13.0% | 24.3 |
| 2010 | 8,260 | $76,394 | $192,912 | 12.2% | 27.3 |
| 2020 | 8,098 | $78,254 | $198,047 | 17.3% | 43.2 |
| 2024 | 6,975 | $83,208 | $255,500 | 19.8% | 49.6 |
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
Places similar to Rapid Valley
Compare Rapid Valley to nearby cities
How many people live in Rapid Valley, South Dakota?
Rapid Valley, South Dakota has about 6,975 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Rapid Valley, South Dakota?
The typical household in Rapid Valley, South Dakota earns about $83,208 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Rapid Valley, South Dakota expensive?
In Rapid Valley, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $255,500, and the typical rent is about $1,174 a month.
How educated are people in Rapid Valley, South Dakota?
About 19.8% of adults age 25 and over in Rapid Valley, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Rapid Valley, South Dakota?
About 4.5% of people in Rapid Valley, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.
Has Rapid Valley, South Dakota grown since 1990?
Yes, Rapid Valley, South Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,007 residents, a change of about 17 percent over that period.
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024