Rapid City
RANK #441 / 996 NAT · POP 110,386
1YR FORECAST: +0.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +25%
Pennington County, South Dakota, is defined by its dramatic landscapes, from the rugged Black Hills in the west, home to Mount Rushmore, to the rolling prairies eastward. Rapid City, the county seat, serves as a central hub, approximately 130 miles west of Pierre. The community offers a blend of urban amenities and access to extensive outdoor recreation, including hiking, biking, fishing, and wildlife viewing in areas like Black Hills National Forest and Badlands National Park. Public transportation, like RapidRide in Rapid City, offers fixed routes, and Eastern Pennington County Transit provides services to smaller towns like Wall, Quinn, and Wasta, including shuttles to Rapid City. Life in Pennington County attracts families and young professionals, with public schools generally performing above average. The economy is supported by diverse sectors, including tourism, healthcare, and manufacturing. Recent economic trends indicate population growth, particularly in areas like Rapid City and Box Elder, partly due to the expansion of Ellsworth Air Force Base. This growth has created demand for more housing across the county. The area also sees ongoing development in technology and engineering, with local universities collaborating to create opportunities for graduates.
Below national median (4.7x)
Below national median
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 4.3x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Philip Wind Project
Philip Wind Partners (Invenergy subsidiary)
|
$750M | Planned |
|
Data Center Development (Black Hills Industrial Center)
Various (e.g., Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Open AI)
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
Cheyenne River Ranch Wind and Solar Farm
Unknown
|
$227M | Proposed |
|
Wild Springs Solar Project
National Grid Renewables
|
$128M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Pennington County scores 55/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 996 U.S. counties (#441). Median household income is $67,823 and job growth is running at +1.2%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Pennington County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $247,800 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.27, with rents averaging $996/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Pennington County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.5% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.2% clip. Home values shifted +1.8% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.63% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Pennington County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.