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METRO AREA

Rapid City Metro

Rapid City, SD · 3 counties · 156,934 residents (2025 est.) · 7,804.642 sq mi
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The short version

Rapid City has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $75,129. Population has grown 27% since 2000. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $308,001. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.6
US median: 38.9
Average education
33% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 105%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
152,950
+27%since 2000
from 120,093 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
20 / sq mi
+27%since 2000
from 15 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.6
+15%since 2000
from 35.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:156,934 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
105K118K131K144K157K1990201020202024Rapid City
2024153K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$75,129
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,314 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$42,169
+126%since 2000
from $18,624 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
50.1%
+26.5 ptssince 2009
from 23.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2000
from 11.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.447
+3%since 2010
from 0.435 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade5.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services5.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration4.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical3.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.9%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$308,001
+105%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $82,594 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,148
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $482 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
71.0%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 67.3% in 2000
29.0% rent
Vacancy rate
10.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.7%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 26.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.7%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 38.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.1
+85%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
77
RELATED:See current rent listings in Rapid City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic87.3%(104,803)
Black0.9%(1,085)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(2,960)
Asian0.8%(928)
Other0%
Diversity Score11%(13,158)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic79.8%(122,065)
Black1.2%(1,806)
Hispanic / Latino5.4%(8,207)
Asian1.1%(1,651)
Other12.6%(19,221)
Diversity Score43%(65,798)
Segregation Score22.8%(34,880)
Diversity Score
43
+293%since 2000
from 11 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
23
−15%since 2020
from 27 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
33.1%
+9.8 ptssince 2000
from 23.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.7%
+6.8 ptssince 2000
from 87.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.4%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 7.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.1 min
+75%since 2000
from 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.0%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 79.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.8%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.5%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.9%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.1%
−2.4 ptssince 2011
from 5.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
64.8%
−4.8 ptssince 2011
from 69.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.9%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.5%
−25.0 ptssince 2009
from 63.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Female
48.8%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Foreign born
2.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
12.4%
−36.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.5%
+2.6 ptssince 2012
from 12.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.1%
−77.0 ptssince 2013
from 87.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.0%
+12.2 ptssince 2017
from 78.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 96.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 1.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Rapid CityCENTRAL80,589
What's inside

3 component counties

Pennington CountyCENTRAL116,792Meade County30,711Custer County9,431
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Rapid City

Jefferson City
Pop 152,712
Monroe
Pop 156,004
Chambersburg
Pop 160,652
Janesville
Pop 166,472
Places similar to Rapid City
Head to head

Compare Rapid City side by side

RAPID CITY VS
Jefferson City
Income$73,899−2%
Home value$215,872−30%
Population152,712−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RAPID CITY VS
Monroe
Income$77,335+3%
Home value$228,900−26%
Population156,004−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RAPID CITY VS
Chambersburg
Income$77,003+2%
Home value$249,800−19%
Population160,652+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RAPID CITY VS
Janesville
Income$75,673+1%
Home value$231,600−25%
Population166,472+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Rapid City, SD?

Rapid City, SD has about 152,950 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Rapid City, SD?

The typical household in Rapid City, SD earns about $75,129 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Rapid City, SD expensive?

In Rapid City, SD, the median home is worth about $308,001, and the typical rent is about $1,148 a month.

How educated are people in Rapid City, SD?

About 33.1% of adults age 25 and over in Rapid City, SD hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Rapid City, SD?

About 10.2% of people in Rapid City, SD live below the federal poverty line.

Has Rapid City, SD grown since 1990?

Yes, Rapid City, SD has grown since 1990. The population has added about 43,550 residents, a change of about 40 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →