Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Rapid City, SD

    Is Rapid City a good place to live?

    Watch Rapid City

    Rapid City ranks #3 of 3 South Dakota cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (25/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 1.6% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $270,000
    +10.4% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,053
    per month
    Household income
    $65,712
    median
    Unemployment
    3.2%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Rapid City

    The median home value in Rapid City is $270,000 and median rent is $1,053 a month, against a median household income of $65,712. Homes cost about 4.1× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Rapid City crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across South Dakota the 2025 rate was 327 violent and 1,430 property crimes per 100,000 people — #26 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Rapid City, SD

    Rapid City has about 76,836 residents, 3.2% unemployment and 23% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Rapid City with

    Rapid City vs Sioux FallsRapid City vs Aberdeen

    More: Where to move in South Dakota · Best counties in South Dakota

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report