RANK #561 / 1001 NAT · POP 113,512
1YR FORECAST: +4.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: -5%
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.
Pennington County is one of 43 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +1.8% runs above the profile's typical -0.0%.
See all 43 Sun Belt Exurban Boom counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 9.2x — home prices are high 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.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
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 1001 counties.
Pennington County scores 44/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#561). Median household income is $74,517 and job growth is running at +0.5%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Pennington County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $302,200 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.25 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,120/month on average.
Pennington County's population is growing — up +1.3% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.5%). Home values shifted +1.8% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.19% 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.