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.

Narrow it

25 of 25 communities

Under $400kClose to EllsworthClose to Rapid CityShort commuteNew construction availableAcreage availableCity water and sewerSmaller marketMore ruralEstablished housingNewer housingClear everything

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

Browse

The five facts that decide a shortlist

Selected, 4 of 4

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.

  • Black Hawk

    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.
    4 is the most that fits. Drop one first.Guide

  • Blucksberg Mountain

    Typical price
    No verified closed sale set is available for Blucksberg Mountain, so no price level is printed here. The five recorded plats differ enough that one figure would not describe any of them.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    Not measured for this page.Drive time is not measured for this community. Time it from the parcel itself.
    To downtown Rapid City
    Not measured for this page.Drive time is not measured for this community. Time it from the parcel itself.
    Utility pattern
    Mixed, municipal service in town with well and septic outside it
    School district
    Meade School District 46-1Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
    4 is the most that fits. Drop one first.Guide

  • Box Elder

    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.
    SelectedGuide

  • Colonial Pine Hills

    Typical price
    About $683,000 average sold in the Sheridan Lake Road MLS area, 71 sales over 12 monthsAverage sold $682,615. Black Hills MLS, single family, 12 months through August 2026, as of August 2026. 71 closed sales.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    About 25 to 30 minutes, through or around Rapid CityDriving time and distance, off peak.
    To downtown Rapid City
    Roughly 6 miles northeastDistance only. Drive time is not measured for this community, so time it from the parcel.
    Utility pattern
    Mostly private well and septic
    School district
    Rapid City Area School District 51-4Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
    4 is the most that fits. Drop one first.Guide

  • Green Valley

    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

  • Piedmont

    Typical price
    $375k to $575kMedian sold $425,000. Black Hills MLS, single family, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 127 closed sales.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    36 min from the Prairie Haven side, closer to 51 from the plats highest up the foothillsDriving time and distance, off peak.
    To downtown Rapid City
    About 26 minutes from the Prairie Haven side, longer from the upper platsDriving time and distance, off peak.
    Utility pattern
    Mixed, municipal service in town with well and septic outside it
    School district
    Meade School District 46-1Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
    4 is the most that fits. Drop one first.Guide

  • Rapid City

    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

  • Rapid Valley

    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

  • Summerset

    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.
    4 is the most that fits. Drop one first.Guide

Northern Hills and I-90

The Sturgis to Belle Fourche side of the Hills, with its own hospitals, schools and employers, so a job in Spearfish or Sturgis does not have to mean a Rapid City commute.

  • Belle Fourche

    Typical price
    $275k to $375kMedian sold $300,000. Mount Rushmore Area MLS, all residential, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 113 closed sales.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    About an hourDriving time and distance, off peak.
    To downtown Rapid City
    About 55 to 60 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
    Utility pattern
    Mixed, municipal service in town with well and septic outside it
    School district
    Belle Fourche School District 9-1Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
    4 is the most that fits. Drop one first.Guide

  • Lead and Deadwood

    Typical price
    $320k to $500kMedian sold $385,000. Mount Rushmore Area MLS, all residential, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 117 closed sales.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    About 55 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
    To downtown Rapid City
    About 50 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
    Utility pattern
    Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify water and sewer service for the address.
    School district
    Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
    SelectedGuide

  • Newell

    Typical price
    No figure published. Newell is Mount Rushmore Area MLS territory and the current feed covers only the Black Hills MLS, so any count from that feed is a floor rather than this town's price level.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    About 60 milesDistance only. Drive time is not measured for this community, so time it from the parcel.
    To downtown Rapid City
    About 54 miles, roughly 70 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
    Utility pattern
    Mixed, municipal service in town with well and septic outside it
    School district
    Newell School District 09-2Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
    4 is the most that fits. Drop one first.Guide

  • Spearfish

    Typical price
    $400k to $600kMedian sold $475,000. Mount Rushmore Area MLS, all residential, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 199 closed sales.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    68 min, 57.0 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
    To downtown Rapid City
    53 min, 47.8 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
    Utility pattern
    City water and sewer are typical inside city-served areas. Acreage outside the city can use wells, septic systems or other service arrangements, so utilities should be confirmed by address.
    School district
    Spearfish School District 40-2Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
    SelectedGuide

  • St. Onge

    Typical price
    No figure published. St. Onge is Mount Rushmore Area MLS territory and the current feed covers only the Black Hills MLS, so a zero here would be a gap in the data rather than a fact about the market.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    About 45 milesDistance only. Drive time is not measured for this community, so time it from the parcel.
    To downtown Rapid City
    About 44 miles, roughly 48 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
    Utility pattern
    Mostly private well and septic
    School district
    Spearfish 40-2 at the townsite, with Belle Fourche 09-1 to the north and Meade 46-1 to the east. Parcel specific.Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
    4 is the most that fits. Drop one first.Guide

  • Sturgis

    Typical price
    $300k to $450kMedian sold $365,000. Mount Rushmore Area MLS, all residential, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 97 closed sales.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    48 min, 38.2 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
    To downtown Rapid City
    33 min, 28.9 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
    Utility pattern
    Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify water and sewer service for the address.
    School district
    Meade School District 46-1Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
    4 is the most that fits. Drop one first.Guide

  • Whitewood

    Typical price
    No town median is published for Whitewood, and it sits in Lawrence County, which the Mount Rushmore Area MLS covers rather than the Black Hills feed behind the figures here. Prices sit under Sturgis, Spearfish and Deadwood, each about ten minutes out.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    About 40 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
    To downtown Rapid City
    About 35 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
    Utility pattern
    Mixed, municipal service in town with well and septic outside it
    School district
    Meade School District 46-1, despite being in Lawrence CountyAssignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
    4 is the most that fits. Drop one first.Guide

Central and Southern Hills

In the timber and on the far southern edge, where lots get larger, well and septic get common, and the drive to a full service hospital becomes part of the decision.

  • Buffalo Gap

    Typical price
    One single family sale shows in the Black Hills MLS over 24 months, at $80,000. One closing is a sample of one rather than a price level, so read it that way.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    About 55 milesDistance only. Drive time is not measured for this community, so time it from the parcel.
    To downtown Rapid City
    About 45 miles, roughly 56 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
    Utility pattern
    Mixed, municipal service in town with well and septic outside it
    School district
    Hot Springs School District 23-2, despite the town being in Custer CountyAssignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
    4 is the most that fits. Drop one first.Guide

  • Custer

    Typical price
    Median sold $627,000Black Hills MLS, single family, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 7 closed sales, small sample.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    About an hour and ten minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
    To downtown Rapid City
    About 50 to 60 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
    Utility pattern
    Mixed, municipal service in town with well and septic outside it
    School district
    Custer School District 16-1Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
    SelectedGuide

  • Edgemont

    Typical price
    About $155,000 average sold, 13 sales over 24 monthsAverage sold $155,285. Black Hills MLS, single family, 24 months through August 2026, as of August 2026. 13 closed sales.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    About 110 milesDistance only. Drive time is not measured for this community, so time it from the parcel.
    To downtown Rapid City
    About 100 miles northeastDistance only. Drive time is not measured for this community, so time it from the parcel.
    Utility pattern
    City water and sewer inside the limits
    School district
    Edgemont School District 23-1Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
    4 is the most that fits. Drop one first.Guide

  • Hermosa

    Typical price
    About $650,000 average sold, 28 sales over 24 monthsAverage sold $648,229. Black Hills MLS, single family, 24 months through August 2026, as of August 2026. 28 closed sales.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    About 35 minutes, north through Rapid City to I-90Driving time and distance, off peak.
    To downtown Rapid City
    26 min, 18.6 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
    Utility pattern
    Mixed, municipal service in town with well and septic outside it
    School district
    Custer School District 16-1Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
    4 is the most that fits. Drop one first.Guide

  • Hill City

    Typical price
    Median sold $519,000Black Hills MLS, single family, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 13 closed sales.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    About 45 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
    To downtown Rapid City
    About 30 to 35 minutes on US-16Driving time and distance, off peak.
    Utility pattern
    Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify water and sewer service for the address.
    School district
    Hill City School District 51-2Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
    4 is the most that fits. Drop one first.Guide

  • Hot Springs

    Typical price
    Median sold $315,150Black Hills MLS, single family, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 24 closed sales.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    About an hour and fifteen minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
    To downtown Rapid City
    About 60 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
    Utility pattern
    Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify water and sewer service for the address.
    School district
    Hot Springs School District 23-2Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
    4 is the most that fits. Drop one first.Guide

  • Keystone

    Typical price
    About $618,000 average sold, but only 9 sales over 24 monthsAverage sold $618,449. Black Hills MLS, single family, 24 months through August 2026, as of August 2026. 9 closed sales, small sample.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    About 40 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
    To downtown Rapid City
    About 25 minutes northeastDriving time and distance, off peak.
    Utility pattern
    Mixed, municipal service in town with well and septic outside it
    School district
    Hill City School District 51-2Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
    4 is the most that fits. Drop one first.Guide

Prairie and Badlands

East of the Hills on the open prairie, where lots run larger, water is often a private well, services are thinner and the wind and the drive are the tradeoffs.

  • New Underwood

    Typical price
    About $320,000 average sold, 20 sales over 24 monthsAverage sold $319,585. Black Hills MLS, single family, 24 months through August 2026, as of August 2026. 20 closed sales.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    About 11 miles, exit 78 to the main gate at exit 67ADistance only. Drive time is not measured for this community, so time it from the parcel.
    To downtown Rapid City
    About 18 miles west on I-90Distance 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
    New Underwood School District 51-3Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
    4 is the most that fits. Drop one first.Guide

  • Wall

    Typical price
    About $270,000 average sold, 19 sales over 24 monthsAverage sold $270,435. Black Hills MLS, single family, 24 months through August 2026, as of August 2026. 19 closed sales.
    To Ellsworth AFB
    About 43 miles westDistance only. Drive time is not measured for this community, so time it from the parcel.
    To downtown Rapid City
    About 50 miles west on I-90Distance only. Drive time is not measured for this community, so time it from the parcel.
    Utility pattern
    City water and sewer inside the limits
    School district
    Wall School District 51-5Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
    4 is the most that fits. Drop one first.Guide
What changes

Between Box Elder, Lead and Deadwood, Spearfish, Custer

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

Region
Box ElderRapid City and the Ellsworth corridorLead and DeadwoodNorthern Hills and I-90SpearfishNorthern Hills and I-90CusterCentral and Southern Hills
County
Box ElderPennington CountyLead and DeadwoodLawrence CountySpearfishLawrence CountyCusterCuster County
Jurisdiction
Box ElderCity of Box ElderLead and DeadwoodNot recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.SpearfishNot recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.CusterNot recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.
Corridor
Box ElderI-90Lead and DeadwoodUS-385 and US-14ASpearfishI-90CusterUS-16
To downtown Rapid City
Box Elder19 min, 10.9 miLead and DeadwoodAbout 50 minutesSpearfish53 min, 47.8 miCusterAbout 50 to 60 minutes
To Ellsworth AFB
Box Elder9 min, 2.3 miLead and DeadwoodAbout 55 minutesSpearfish68 min, 57.0 miCusterAbout an hour and ten minutes
Side by side

Box Elder, Lead and Deadwood, Spearfish, Custer

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

Box Elder
Rapid City and the Ellsworth corridor
Lead and Deadwood
Northern Hills and I-90
Spearfish
Northern Hills and I-90
Custer
Central and Southern Hills

Countydiffers

Box Elder
Pennington County
Lead and Deadwood
Lawrence County
Spearfish
Lawrence County
Custer
Custer County

Jurisdictiondiffers

City versus county decides who provides service and who inspects the work.
Box Elder
City of Box Elder
Lead and Deadwood
Not recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.
Spearfish
Not recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.
Custer
Not recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.

Corridordiffers

Box Elder
I-90
Lead and Deadwood
US-385 and US-14A
Spearfish
I-90
Custer
US-16

To downtown Rapid Citydiffers

Box Elder
19 min, 10.9 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
Lead and Deadwood
About 50 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
Spearfish
53 min, 47.8 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
Custer
About 50 to 60 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.

To Ellsworth AFBdiffers

Box Elder
9 min, 2.3 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
Lead and Deadwood
About 55 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
Spearfish
68 min, 57.0 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
Custer
About an hour and ten minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.

Winter drivingdiffers

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.
Lead and Deadwood
Lead averages 183.9 inches of snow a year, so plowing, driveway grade and which way it faces are part of the budget.
Spearfish
Chinook winds off the hills are a genuine feature of winter in this corridor.
Custer
Winter roads are a genuine planning factor at this distance, and on acreage you need to know who maintains yours.

Housing and lots

Typical pricediffers

Box Elder
$340k to $400kMedian sold $367,000. Black Hills MLS, single family, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 235 closed sales.
Lead and Deadwood
$320k to $500kMedian sold $385,000. Mount Rushmore Area MLS, all residential, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 117 closed sales.
Spearfish
$400k to $600kMedian sold $475,000. Mount Rushmore Area MLS, all residential, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 199 closed sales.
Custer
Median sold $627,000Black Hills MLS, single family, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 7 closed sales, small sample.

Housing agediffers

Box Elder
Heavily new construction since the B-21 announcement
Lead and Deadwood
Historic stock, plus Powder House Pass as the newest product up here
Spearfish
Older stock in the middle, edge subdivisions built 1996 to 2023
Custer
Mixed ages. Older homes near the core, newer construction toward the edges.

New constructiondiffers

Box Elder
Active, with subdivisions still building
Lead and Deadwood
Limited, mostly infill and small projects
Spearfish
New construction remains active on the edges of town, including areas such as Sky Ridge and other newer developments.
Custer
Not recorded townwide in this guide. Check current permits with the city or county.

Acreagediffers

Box Elder
Not recorded townwide in this guide. The recorded plat carries the lot size.
Lead and Deadwood
Mountain acreage exists outside the denser town centers, with access, well, septic and winter-maintenance considerations varying by property.
Spearfish
Acreage is available around Spearfish, primarily on surrounding Lawrence County ground rather than in the city core.
Custer
Acreage is common outside the city core, with wells and septic systems typical on many rural properties.

Typical lotdiffers

Box Elder
Small city lots, about 0.15 to 0.18 acres in the newer plats
Lead and Deadwood
Not recorded townwide in this guide. The recorded plat carries the lot dimensions.
Spearfish
Not recorded townwide in this guide. The recorded plat carries the lot dimensions.
Custer
Not recorded townwide in this guide. The recorded plat carries the lot dimensions.

Covenants and HOAdiffers

Covenants are recorded per plat. The title commitment lists what binds the parcel.
Box Elder
Not recorded townwide in this guide. Read the recorded documents for the plat.
Lead and Deadwood
Recorded covenants on some plats, none on others
Spearfish
Recorded covenants on some plats, none on others
Custer
Not recorded townwide in this guide. Read the recorded documents for the plat.

Utilities and rules

Utility patterndiffers

Box Elder
City water and sewer inside the limits
Lead and Deadwood
Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify water and sewer service for the address.
Spearfish
City water and sewer are typical inside city-served areas. Acreage outside the city can use wells, septic systems or other service arrangements, so utilities should be confirmed by address.
Custer
Mixed, municipal service in town with well and septic outside it

Waterdiffers

Box Elder
City of Box Elder municipal
Lead and Deadwood
Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify the provider for the address.
Spearfish
City water inside the Spearfish limits. Acreage outside the limits runs on a private well or a rural water district.Read off the townwide utility pattern in the guide. The service address controls, so confirm the provider before you write an offer.
Custer
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

Box Elder
City of Box Elder municipal
Lead and Deadwood
Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify the service for the address.
Spearfish
City sewer inside the Spearfish limits, private septic on acreage outside them.Read off the townwide utility pattern in the guide. The service address controls, so confirm the provider before you write an offer.
Custer
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

Box Elder
A verify first town for rental plans, with one specific misconception the guide clears up.
Lead and Deadwood
Three jurisdictions within a few miles give three different answers. This is where guessing gets expensive.
Spearfish
The city studied rules in 2023 and 2024 and maintains an official short term rental page. Verify the current ordinance first.
Custer
Grandfathered permits are non transferable and expire when the property sells, and the rules flip at the city line.

Schools

School districtdiffers

Box Elder
Douglas School District 51-1Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
Lead and Deadwood
Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
Spearfish
Spearfish School District 40-2Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
Custer
Custer School District 16-1Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.

Daily errands

Groceriesdiffers

Box Elder
Lynn's Dakotamart is a full-service grocery store in town.
Lead and Deadwood
Not recorded in this guide. Check what is open near the address.
Spearfish
Full-service grocery options in town include Walmart, Safeway and Lueders Food Centers.
Custer
Lynn's Dakotamart is a full-service grocery store in town.

Healthcarediffers

Box Elder
Monument Health Box Elder Clinic provides primary and urgent care in town. Hospital-level care is in Rapid City.
Lead and Deadwood
Monument Health Lead-Deadwood Hospital and clinic provide hospital-level and outpatient care in the area.
Spearfish
Monument Health Spearfish Hospital and outpatient clinics are in town.
Custer
Monument Health Custer Hospital and clinic are in town.

Recreationdiffers

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.
Lead and Deadwood
Terry Peak, a 7,100 foot summit with 1,100 feet of vertical and 30 trails, plus Deadwood gaming and the historic district.
Spearfish
D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery, Black Hills State University events, and Terry Peak and Deadwood a short drive south.
Custer
Custer State Park at the door, including Sylvan Lake, the Needles Highway, the wildlife loop and the September buffalo roundup.

Mapped subdivisions

Outlines on filediffers

Box Elder
16 mapped outlines, 3 with a full guideReference outlines from county and city GIS, not surveys. The recorded plat controls.
Lead and Deadwood
55 mapped outlines, 0 with a full guideReference outlines from county and city GIS, not surveys. The recorded plat controls.
Spearfish
25 mapped outlines, 13 with a full guideReference outlines from county and city GIS, not surveys. The recorded plat controls.
Custer
No recorded subdivision outlines drawn for this community yet.

The trade

Housing and patterndiffers

Box Elder
A young city building its first downtown at Liberty Plaza on 110 acres, with roughly 800 residential units planned.
Lead and Deadwood
High elevation historic streets, with Terry Peak, the Mickelson Trail and the Powder House Pass covenants and Community Improvement District just south of Lead.
Spearfish
A university town with a walkable middle, growing fast enough that new construction has moved to the edges.
Custer
A county seat at a park entrance, with a replacement Monument Health hospital and acreage starting just past the city limits.

What you gaindiffers

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.
Lead and Deadwood
Elevation, Terry Peak measured in minutes, the Mickelson Trail and historic streets you cannot build a copy of.
Spearfish
A downtown you can walk across, Black Hills State and Spearfish Canyon out the back door, on city water and sewer.
Custer
You are inside the Hills with real acreage, Custer State Park at the door, and a new hospital in a town of about 1,900.

What you give updiffers

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.
Lead and Deadwood
Lead averages 183.9 inches of snow a year, so snow removal and vehicle choice are line items, and three jurisdictions inside a few miles answer rental questions differently.
Spearfish
The highest median sold price of the region's higher volume markets at $475,000 across 199 sales, and Rapid City is 53 minutes on the interstate with the Ellsworth gate 68.
Custer
Rapid City is 50 to 60 minutes and Ellsworth over an hour, grandfathered rental permits expire when a property sells, and outside the city limits there are no county building codes.
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

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