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METRO AREA · 2010 ACS

Rapid City Metro

Rapid City, SD · 3 counties · 134,598 residents · 7,804.642 sq mi
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The short version

Rapid City has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $46,716. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $149,634.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Mid-age
median age 37.5
US median: 37.2
Average education
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 43%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
134,598
+12%since 2000
from 120,093 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
17 / sq mi
+12%since 2000
from 15 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
37.5
+6%since 2000
from 35.2 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
105K118K131K144K157K1990201020202024Rapid City
2024153K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$46,716
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,314 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,073
+35%since 2000
from $18,624 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
25.6%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 23.6% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
13.0%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 11.0% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.435
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information12.5%
US avg: 11.5%
Wholesale trade8.2%
US avg: 7.2%
Retail trade6.6%
US avg: 10.9%
Other services6.6%
US avg: 7%
Public administration4.8%
US avg: 4.9%
Finance & insurance4.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction3.3%
US avg: 1.4%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
US avg: 4.2%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.4%
US avg: 2.4%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.8%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$149,634
+43%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $82,594 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$648
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $482 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
44.5%
−22.8 ptssince 2000
from 67.3% in 2000
32.5% rent
Vacancy rate
10.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
26.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 26.7% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 38.0% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
3.2
+45%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2010
White, non-Hispanic84%(113,013)
Black1%(1,335)
Hispanic / Latino3.7%(4,999)
Asian0.9%(1,230)
Other9.8%(13,215)
Diversity Score34.4%(46,294)
Diversity Score
34
+214%since 2000
from 11 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
26.5%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 23.3% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
91.7%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 87.8% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
8.8%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 7.3% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.5 min
+62%since 2000
from 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
79.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 79.2% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
10.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
4.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
2.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
4.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
12.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
34.3%
−29.2 ptssince 2009
from 63.5% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Female
49.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Foreign born
1.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
16.8%
−31.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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+58%
Home value$215,872+44%
Population152,712−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RAPID CITY VS
Monroe
Income$77,335+66%
Home value$228,900+53%
Population156,004−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RAPID CITY VS
Chambersburg
Income$77,003+65%
Home value$249,800+67%
Population160,652+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RAPID CITY VS
Janesville
Income$75,673+62%
Home value$231,600+55%
Population166,472+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Rapid City, SD?

Rapid City, SD has about 134,598 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Rapid City, SD earns about $46,716 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 $149,634, and the typical rent is about $648 a month.

How educated are people in Rapid City, SD?

About 26.5% 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 13.0% 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 25,198 residents, a change of about 23 percent over that period.

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

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