Henry Roy Real Estate, Ascend Realty, Rapid City South Dakota
Relocation

Compare Black Hills Communities

25 towns and unincorporated communities. Pick two to four and the full table appears underneath. Commutes are driving times to the Ellsworth main gate and downtown Rapid City. Median sold prices, where we have them, come from the MLS over the trailing twelve months with the source, window and sale count printed under each figure. Typical price bands are practical search ranges, not medians, and are labelled separately.

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6 of 25 communities

Price filters only consider communities with a published trailing twelve month median, so towns without one do not appear in a price filter.

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The five facts that decide a shortlist

Rapid City and the Ellsworth corridor

Everything within about twenty five minutes of downtown Rapid City or the Ellsworth main gate, where most of the newer inventory, the shortest commutes and the jurisdiction questions about city versus county service are.

  • Typical price
    Unincorporated, so closings report under Rapid City and Meade County rather than a Black Hawk median. Lot size and outbuildings move the price more than the street does.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    About 30 minutes, the same I-90 run as Summerset just northDriving time and distance, off peak.
    To downtown Rapid City
    About 12 to 15 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
    Utility pattern
    Mixed, municipal service in town with well and septic outside it
    School district
    Rapid City Area Schools 51-4 for most addressesAssignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
  • Typical price
    $340k to $400kMedian sold $367,000. Black Hills MLS, single family, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 235 closed sales.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    9 min, 2.3 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
    To downtown Rapid City
    19 min, 10.9 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
    Utility pattern
    City water and sewer inside the limits
    School district
    Douglas School District 51-1Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
  • Typical price
    No published median exists for the community. Closed sales on the specific street are the only figure worth quoting here.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    About 15 minutes northDriving time and distance, off peak.
    To downtown Rapid City
    About 6 miles northwestDistance only. Drive time is not measured for this community, so time it from the parcel.
    Utility pattern
    Mixed, municipal service in town with well and septic outside it
    School district
    Split between Douglas 51-1 and Rapid City Area 51-4. Address specific.Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
    4 is the most that fits. Drop one first.Guide
  • Typical price
    $300k to $450kMedian sold $349,950. Black Hills MLS, single family, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 706 closed sales.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    24 min, 13.8 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
    To downtown Rapid City
    5 min, 1.5 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
    Utility pattern
    City water and sewer inside the limits
    School district
    Rapid City Area Schools 51-4Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
    4 is the most that fits. Drop one first.Guide
  • Typical price
    About $350,000 average sold, 274 sales over 12 monthsAverage sold $349,971. Black Hills MLS, single family, 12 months through August 2026, as of August 2026. 274 closed sales.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    22 min, 10.4 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
    To downtown Rapid City
    11 min, 5.2 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
    Utility pattern
    Utility service varies by address. Rapid Valley Sanitary District serves portions of the area, while properties outside district service may use private wells and septic systems.
    School district
    Mostly Rapid City Area School District 51-4, with portions in Douglas 51-1Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
    4 is the most that fits. Drop one first.Guide
  • Typical price
    Builder inventory sets the level here, and the MLS publishes no Summerset median on its own.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    30 min, 19.2 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
    To downtown Rapid City
    15 min, 10.0 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
    Utility pattern
    Sewer collection is provided by the City of Summerset. Water service varies by address and can include Black Hawk Water User District or Diamond D Water in Sun Valley.
    School district
    Meade 46-1 and Rapid City Area Schools 51-4, split within the cityAssignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
What changes

Between Black Hawk, Summerset, Box Elder, Belle Fourche

The rows below are the ones where these do not read the same. Ordered as the table runs, not by importance.

Region
Black HawkRapid City and the Ellsworth corridorSummersetRapid City and the Ellsworth corridorBox ElderRapid City and the Ellsworth corridorBelle FourcheNorthern Hills and I-90
County
Black HawkMeade CountySummersetMeade CountyBox ElderPennington CountyBelle FourcheButte County
Jurisdiction
Black HawkUnincorporated Meade CountySummersetCity of Summerset, incorporated July 2005Box ElderCity of Box ElderBelle FourcheNot recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.
Corridor
Black HawkI-90SummersetI-90Box ElderI-90Belle FourcheUS-85 and SD-34
To downtown Rapid City
Black HawkAbout 12 to 15 minutesSummerset15 min, 10.0 miBox Elder19 min, 10.9 miBelle FourcheAbout 55 to 60 minutes
To Ellsworth AFB
Black HawkAbout 30 minutes, the same I-90 run as Summerset just northSummerset30 min, 19.2 miBox Elder9 min, 2.3 miBelle FourcheAbout an hour
Side by side

Black Hawk, Summerset, Box Elder, Belle Fourche

Rows marked as differing are the ones where these do not read alike. Rows without the mark sit on a quiet background because they say the same thing in every column.

Where it sits

Regiondiffers

Black Hawk
Rapid City and the Ellsworth corridor
Summerset
Rapid City and the Ellsworth corridor
Box Elder
Rapid City and the Ellsworth corridor
Belle Fourche
Northern Hills and I-90

Countydiffers

Black Hawk
Meade County
Summerset
Meade County
Box Elder
Pennington County
Belle Fourche
Butte County

Jurisdictiondiffers

City versus county decides who provides service and who inspects the work.
Black Hawk
Unincorporated Meade County
Summerset
City of Summerset, incorporated July 2005
Box Elder
City of Box Elder
Belle Fourche
Not recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.

Corridordiffers

Black Hawk
I-90
Summerset
I-90
Box Elder
I-90
Belle Fourche
US-85 and SD-34

To downtown Rapid Citydiffers

Black Hawk
About 12 to 15 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
Summerset
15 min, 10.0 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
Box Elder
19 min, 10.9 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
Belle Fourche
About 55 to 60 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.

To Ellsworth AFBdiffers

Black Hawk
About 30 minutes, the same I-90 run as Summerset just northDriving time and distance, off peak.
Summerset
30 min, 19.2 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
Box Elder
9 min, 2.3 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
Belle Fourche
About an hourDriving time and distance, off peak.

Winter drivingdiffers

Black Hawk
The road out front may be maintained publicly or by the neighborhood, so ask who plows before you buy.
Summerset
The commute is I-90, so winter driving here is interstate driving rather than a two lane canyon road.
Box Elder
I-90 is state maintained and the city clears the newer plats. Box Elder publishes no plow priority map, so ask a neighbor how the street clears after a real storm.
Belle Fourche
Out on the acreage the question is who maintains the road in winter, and it is worth asking in writing.

Housing and lots

Typical pricediffers

Black Hawk
Unincorporated, so closings report under Rapid City and Meade County rather than a Black Hawk median. Lot size and outbuildings move the price more than the street does.
Summerset
Builder inventory sets the level here, and the MLS publishes no Summerset median on its own.
Box Elder
$340k to $400kMedian sold $367,000. Black Hills MLS, single family, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 235 closed sales.
Belle Fourche
$275k to $375kMedian sold $300,000. Mount Rushmore Area MLS, all residential, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 113 closed sales.

Housing agediffers

Black Hawk
Mixed street to street, sometimes neighbor to neighbor
Summerset
Mostly 2000s to present
Box Elder
Heavily new construction since the B-21 announcement
Belle Fourche
Older homes in town, newer construction on the edges

New constructiondiffers

Black Hawk
Limited, mostly infill and small projects
Summerset
Limited, mostly infill and small projects
Box Elder
Active, with subdivisions still building
Belle Fourche
Limited, mostly infill and small projects

Acreagediffers

Black Hawk
Larger lots and acre properties are part of the Black Hawk market, including properties with room for shops and outbuildings.
Summerset
Not recorded townwide in this guide. The recorded plat carries the lot size.
Box Elder
Not recorded townwide in this guide. The recorded plat carries the lot size.
Belle Fourche
Larger lots and acreage become more common around the edges of Belle Fourche and in nearby rural subdivisions.

Typical lotdiffers

Black Hawk
Bigger lots, with shop space and outbuildings normal
Summerset
Wide lots on new streets
Box Elder
Small city lots, about 0.15 to 0.18 acres in the newer plats
Belle Fourche
Generous in town, acreage out past it

Covenants and HOAdiffers

Covenants are recorded per plat. The title commitment lists what binds the parcel.
Black Hawk
Recorded covenants on some plats, none on othersRecorded covenants vary by subdivision and should be checked for the specific property.
Summerset
Recorded covenants on some plats, none on others
Box Elder
Not recorded townwide in this guide. Read the recorded documents for the plat.
Belle Fourche
Not recorded townwide in this guide. Read the recorded documents for the plat.

Utilities and rules

Utility patterndiffers

Black Hawk
Mixed, municipal service in town with well and septic outside it
Summerset
Sewer collection is provided by the City of Summerset. Water service varies by address and can include Black Hawk Water User District or Diamond D Water in Sun Valley.
Box Elder
City water and sewer inside the limits
Belle Fourche
Mixed, municipal service in town with well and septic outside it

Waterdiffers

Black Hawk
Black Hawk Water User District
Summerset
Black Hawk Water User District, or Diamond D Water in Sun Valley
Box Elder
City of Box Elder municipal
Belle Fourche
Municipal water inside the limits, a private well or a district system outside them.Read off the townwide utility pattern in the guide. The service address controls, so confirm the provider before you write an offer.

Sewerdiffers

Black Hawk
Black Hawk Sanitary District serves roughly 200 homes and businesses; properties outside the district are on private septic
Summerset
City of Summerset
Box Elder
City of Box Elder municipal
Belle Fourche
City sewer inside the limits, private septic outside them.Read off the townwide utility pattern in the guide. The service address controls, so confirm the provider before you write an offer.

Short term rentalsdiffers

Black Hawk
No municipal short term rental ordinance, because there is no municipality. State licensing still applies, and the subdivision covenant usually decides.
Summerset
The thinnest rules on this list, which means a rental plan has to be pinned down for the specific address.
Box Elder
A verify first town for rental plans, with one specific misconception the guide clears up.
Belle Fourche
General zoning and state rules do the work in Belle Fourche. Confirm the lodging use category with city hall for the address before you count on rental income.

Schools

School districtdiffers

Black Hawk
Rapid City Area Schools 51-4 for most addressesAssignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
Summerset
Meade 46-1 and Rapid City Area Schools 51-4, split within the cityAssignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
Box Elder
Douglas School District 51-1Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
Belle Fourche
Belle Fourche School District 9-1Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.

Daily errands

Groceriesdiffers

Black Hawk
No full-service grocery store is in Black Hawk. Most larger grocery trips go into Rapid City.
Summerset
Not recorded in this guide. Check what is open near the address.
Box Elder
Lynn's Dakotamart is a full-service grocery store in town.
Belle Fourche
Full-service grocery options in town include Lueders Food Centers and Lynn's Dakotamart.

Healthcarediffers

Black Hawk
Monument Health Rapid City Hospital
Summerset
Hospital-level care is in Rapid City, about 15 minutes south.
Box Elder
Monument Health Box Elder Clinic provides primary and urgent care in town. Hospital-level care is in Rapid City.
Belle Fourche
Monument Health has a clinic in Belle Fourche. Hospital-level care is available in Spearfish.

Recreationdiffers

Black Hawk
Piedmont and the Stagebarn area are just north, with the central hills close enough for a half day.
Summerset
Leisure Lane, Steamboat and Castlewood parks are the everyday recreation. Leisure Lane is the big one, with playgrounds, basketball, picnic shelters, open grass and the community garden.
Box Elder
The Liberty Center, the city park and ballfield network, and the South Dakota Air and Space Museum are the in-town recreation. The Badlands are a day trip, not your neighborhood park.
Belle Fourche
The Geographic Center of the Nation monument, the Tri-State Museum, and the Black Hills Roundup rodeo every Fourth of July week since 1918.

Mapped subdivisions

Outlines on filediffers

Black Hawk
12 mapped outlines, 5 with a full guideReference outlines from county and city GIS, not surveys. The recorded plat controls.
Summerset
2 mapped outlines, 2 with a full guideReference outlines from county and city GIS, not surveys. The recorded plat controls.
Box Elder
16 mapped outlines, 3 with a full guideReference outlines from county and city GIS, not surveys. The recorded plat controls.
Belle Fourche
No recorded subdivision outlines drawn for this community yet.

The trade

Housing and patterndiffers

Black Hawk
Unincorporated foothills pockets where lot size, home age and outbuildings change from one parcel to the next.
Summerset
New streets and builder inventory, with Highlands at Norman Ranch adding over 100 first phase homesites across more than 300 acres.
Box Elder
A young city building its first downtown at Liberty Plaza on 110 acres, with roughly 800 residential units planned.
Belle Fourche
A ranching hub with a working main street, mature trees and a rodeo the whole town turns out for.

What you gaindiffers

Black Hawk
Bigger lots, room for a shop, and about 12 to 15 minutes to downtown Rapid City, without a city hall setting the local rules.
Summerset
Newer houses on city sewer with Hills views at a price central Rapid City does not offer, and Highlands at Norman Ranch is still selling first phase homesites.
Box Elder
The Ellsworth main gate is in town, 9 minutes from most addresses, on city water and sewer, with the region's newest housing pipeline.
Belle Fourche
A $300,000 median across 113 trailing twelve month sales, under Spearfish, Sturgis and Deadwood, with acreage out past town.

What you give updiffers

Black Hawk
There is no city hall, so the subdivision covenant decides what you can build or rent, and water, sewer and road maintenance all change parcel to parcel.
Summerset
You are fifteen minutes out from most of Rapid City's services and you drive I-90 to get to them in the winter. The city is also split between Meade 46-1 and Rapid City Area Schools 51-4, so the district follows the address.
Box Elder
Comparable sales run thin inside brand new subdivisions and builder incentives move the effective price without moving the list price. I-90 fills at shift change, and the flight line is close enough that you hear it.
Belle Fourche
Rapid City is 55 to 60 minutes and Ellsworth about an hour, so this is a commute you pick on purpose.
Where this comes from

Commute figures are driving times off peak, from the community guide each card links to. Median sold prices come from the MLS, and each figure carries its own source, window and closing count, because Sturgis, Spearfish and the northern hills report through a different MLS than Rapid City. Under five closings there is no median, and the price row says so. Five to nine closings carries a small sample note. School districts follow the official boundary for the address, and the district office is the only place to confirm an assignment. Short term rental lines are summaries. Read the guide and the current ordinance before you count on rental income.

The filters use these definitions: under $400k is the MLS sold figure for the town, a median where one is published and otherwise the average sold, comes in under $400,000; close to ellsworth is 25 minutes or less to the Ellsworth main gate; close to rapid city is 20 minutes or less to downtown Rapid City; short commute is 15 minutes or less to either downtown Rapid City or the Ellsworth gate; new construction available is the guide establishes active or limited new construction; acreage available is acreage is common or present in the guide; city water and sewer is city water and sewer across the community; smaller market is fewer than 100 closed single family sales in the trailing twelve months; more rural is acreage is common, or water and sewer are not municipal throughout; established housing is the guide classifies the housing stock as established, meaning largely pre 2000; newer housing is the guide classifies a meaningful share of the housing stock as 2000s or later.

Every row here is a townwide summary and a single parcel can read differently. Buyer due diligence should include verifying water and sewer service, school assignment, recorded covenants and HOA obligations, rental rules, legal access, insurance availability and which jurisdiction inspects and permits the work, for the exact address. Confirm with the city or county, the utility or district, the school district office, the title company and your insurer as applicable.

Last updated August 2026

Contact

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ComparingBlack Hawk, Summerset, Box Elder, Belle Fourche

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