COMPARING TWO PLACES
Buffalo vs Rapid City
PLACE A
Buffalo, South Dakota
VS
PLACE B
Rapid City, South Dakota
Buffalo is 100% smaller than Rapid City. Buffalo earns more, with a median household income $14,234 higher. Rapid City has grown faster since 2000 (10% vs 5%).
BUFFALORAPID CITYDIFFERENCE
Total population35880,589−100% vs Rapid City
Population density6461,463−817
Population growth4.8%9.9%−5.1 pts
Median age57.239.1+18.1
Male60.4%50.9%+9.5 pts
Female39.6%49.1%−9.5 pts
Foreign-born1.1%2.6%−1.5 pts
White, non-Hispanic93.5%76.3%+17.2 pts
Black0.0%1.2%−1.2 pts
Hispanic / Latino1.8%6.1%−4.3 pts
Asian0.0%1.3%−1.3 pts
Other4.7%15.1%−10.4 pts
Median household income$85,104$70,870+$14,234
Per capita income$58,004$42,204+$15,800
Poverty rate6.8%12.5%−5.7 pts
Income inequality (Gini)0.3490.473−0.1
Bachelor's degree or higher15.8%37.0%−21.2 pts
Graduate degree2.1%14.3%−12.2 pts
Unemployment rate2.2%2.6%−0.4 pts
Labor force participation74.1%63.9%+10.2 pts
Median home value$114,100$299,400−$185,300
Median gross rent$725$1,109−$384
Owner-occupied82.0%62.9%+19.0 pts
Housing vacancy rate31.2%9.0%+22.2 pts
Rent-burdened households10.3%47.6%−37.3 pts
Average commute10.317.5−7.1
Worked from home5.5%10.0%−4.5 pts
Public transit to work0.0%0.2%−0.2 pts
Uninsured3.6%9.8%−6.2 pts
Population, 1990 – 2025