Rapid City, SD — City Profile & Demographics 2026
Population 76,836 · South Dakota · Updated May 2026
Population
76,836
Median Income
$65,712
Home Price
$363,258
Unemployment
3.2%
Poverty Rate
13.3%
Bachelor's+
36.4%
Full Demographics — Rapid City, SD
27 metrics across 8 categories, compared to US national averages.
Demographics
| Metric | Rapid City, SD | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 76,836 | — | |
| Pop. Density / sq mi | N/A | — | |
| Median Age | 39.0 | 38.9 | |
| Foreign Born | 2.3% | 13.8% | |
| White | 78.3% | 61.6% | |
| Black | 1.6% | 12.4% | |
| Asian | 1.3% | 6.0% | |
| Hispanic | 5.6% | 18.7% | |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | 13.2% |
Economy
| Metric | Rapid City, SD | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $65,712 | $74,580 | |
| Per Capita Income | $40,447 | $40,480 | |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $69,795 | $64,500 | |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% | 3.8% | |
| Poverty Rate | 13.3% | 11.5% | |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 36.4% | 35.8% |
Housing
Source: Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS
| Metric | Rapid City, SD | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $363,258 | $410,000 | |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.6% | 65.4% |
Safety
| Metric | Rapid City, SD | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 405 | 380 | |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1873 | 1950 |
Health
| Metric | Rapid City, SD | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 34.0% | 33.0% | |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 11.8% | 11.6% | |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.0% | 14.0% | |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 9.6% | 9.6% | |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 20.5% | 15.5% | |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 15.9% | 12.5% |
Climate
| Metric | Rapid City, SD | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 46.3°F | 54.5°F | |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 18.4 in | 30.2 in |
Air Quality
| Metric | Rapid City, SD | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.3 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 70.0% |
Commute
| Metric | Rapid City, SD | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 18.8 min | 27.0 min |
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About Rapid City, SD
Rapid City is a city in South Dakota, United States. With a population of 76,836, it is one of the notable cities in the region. Compared to the US average, Rapid City shows stronger unemployment (3.2% unemployment vs 3.8% unemployment US avg) and commute time (19 min average commute vs 27 min average commute US avg). However, the city has a higher household income at $65,712 median HH income, compared to the US average of $74,580 median HH income. Data sourced from US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Survey (2023), CDC PLACES, FBI CDE, NOAA, and EPA.