COMPARING TWO PLACES
Custer vs Rapid City
PLACE A
Custer, South Dakota
VS
PLACE B
Rapid City, South Dakota
Custer is 98% smaller than Rapid City. Custer earns more, with a median household income $7,499 higher. Rapid City has grown faster since 2000 (10% vs -7%).
CUSTERRAPID CITYDIFFERENCE
Total population1,80380,589−98% vs Rapid City
Population density7271,463−736
Population growth-7.2%9.9%−17.1 pts
Median age51.239.1+12.1
Male44.8%50.9%−6.1 pts
Female55.2%49.1%+6.1 pts
Foreign-born1.8%2.6%−0.8 pts
White, non-Hispanic86.4%76.3%+10.1 pts
Black0.0%1.2%−1.2 pts
Hispanic / Latino2.2%6.1%−3.9 pts
Asian1.2%1.3%−0.1 pts
Other10.2%15.1%−4.9 pts
Median household income$78,369$70,870+$7,499
Per capita income$48,209$42,204+$6,005
Poverty rate14.2%12.5%+1.7 pts
Income inequality (Gini)0.4890.473+0.0
Bachelor's degree or higher26.1%37.0%−10.8 pts
Graduate degree8.1%14.3%−6.2 pts
Unemployment rate4.0%2.6%+1.4 pts
Labor force participation52.4%63.9%−11.5 pts
Median home value$235,600$299,400−$63,800
Median gross rent$968$1,109−$141
Owner-occupied69.5%62.9%+6.6 pts
Housing vacancy rate15.5%9.0%+6.5 pts
Rent-burdened households30.1%47.6%−17.6 pts
Average commute18.717.5+1.2
Worked from home8.1%10.0%−1.9 pts
Public transit to work0.0%0.2%−0.2 pts
Uninsured11.7%9.8%+1.9 pts
Population, 1990 – 2025