Concord NC vs Rapid City SD — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Concord, NC

North Carolina · Population: 106,518

  • Median HH Income$84,752
  • Median Home Price$384,688
  • Unemployment4.8%
  • Bachelor's+41.7%

Rapid City, SD

South Dakota · Population: 76,836

  • Median HH Income$65,712
  • Median Home Price$363,258
  • Unemployment3.2%
  • Bachelor's+36.4%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Concord
106,518
Concord +
Rapid City
76,836
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Concord
N/A
Rapid City
N/A
Median Age
Concord
36.2
Concord +
Rapid City
39.0
Foreign Born
Concord
12.5%
Concord +
Rapid City
2.3%
White
Concord
54.7%
Rapid City
78.3%
Rapid City +
Black
Concord
22.1%
Concord +
Rapid City
1.6%
Asian
Concord
6.7%
Concord +
Rapid City
1.3%
Hispanic
Concord
15.8%
Concord +
Rapid City
5.6%
Spanish at Home
Concord
N/A
Rapid City
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Concord
$84,752
Concord +
Rapid City
$65,712
Per Capita Income
Concord
$40,763
Concord +
Rapid City
$40,447
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Concord
$59,120
Rapid City
$69,795
Rapid City +
Unemployment Rate
Concord
4.8%
Rapid City
3.2%
Rapid City +
Poverty Rate
Concord
8.6%
Concord +
Rapid City
13.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
Concord
41.7%
Concord +
Rapid City
36.4%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Concord
$384,688
Rapid City
$363,258
Rapid City +
Homeownership Rate
Concord
66.4%
Concord +
Rapid City
61.6%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Concord
398
Concord +
Rapid City
405
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Concord
1999
Rapid City
1873
Rapid City +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Concord
33.5%
Concord +
Rapid City
34.0%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Concord
10.6%
Concord +
Rapid City
11.8%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Concord
16.6%
Rapid City
16.0%
Rapid City +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Concord
10.5%
Rapid City
9.6%
Rapid City +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Concord
15.2%
Concord +
Rapid City
20.5%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Concord
12.5%
Concord +
Rapid City
15.9%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Concord
60.4°F
Rapid City
46.3°F
Rapid City +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Concord
45.9 in
Rapid City
18.4 in
Rapid City +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Concord
8.7 µg/m³
Rapid City
7.3 µg/m³
Rapid City +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Concord
75.0%
Rapid City
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Concord
29.7 min
Rapid City
18.8 min
Rapid City +

Which City is Right for You?

Concord leads in median household income at $84,752, while rapid City offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $363,258. On public safety, Concord is safer with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 residents, compared to 405 in Rapid City. Rapid City has a lower unemployment rate at 3.2%, and Rapid City has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.3 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Concord scores better with a lower obesity rate of 33.5%.

Compare More Cities

About Concord & Rapid City