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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13 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
    $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
    $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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

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.

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

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.

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

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.

  • 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.
What changes

Between Hermosa, Edgemont, Box Elder

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

Region
HermosaCentral and Southern HillsEdgemontCentral and Southern HillsBox ElderRapid City and the Ellsworth corridor
County
HermosaCuster CountyEdgemontFall River CountyBox ElderPennington County
Jurisdiction
HermosaIncorporated town of Hermosa, with Custer County outside the town limitsEdgemontIncorporated city of Edgemont, with Fall River County outside the limits.Box ElderCity of Box Elder
Corridor
HermosaUS 79EdgemontUS 18 and SD 471Box ElderI-90
To downtown Rapid City
Hermosa26 min, 18.6 miEdgemontAbout 100 miles northeastBox Elder19 min, 10.9 mi
To Ellsworth AFB
HermosaAbout 35 minutes, north through Rapid City to I-90EdgemontAbout 110 milesBox Elder9 min, 2.3 mi
Side by side

Hermosa, Edgemont, Box Elder

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

Hermosa
Central and Southern Hills
Edgemont
Central and Southern Hills
Box Elder
Rapid City and the Ellsworth corridor

Countydiffers

Hermosa
Custer County
Edgemont
Fall River County
Box Elder
Pennington County

Jurisdictiondiffers

City versus county decides who provides service and who inspects the work.
Hermosa
Incorporated town of Hermosa, with Custer County outside the town limits
Edgemont
Incorporated city of Edgemont, with Fall River County outside the limits.
Box Elder
City of Box Elder

Corridordiffers

Hermosa
US 79
Edgemont
US 18 and SD 471
Box Elder
I-90

To downtown Rapid Citydiffers

Hermosa
26 min, 18.6 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
Edgemont
About 100 miles northeastDistance only. Drive time is not measured for this community, so time it from the parcel.
Box Elder
19 min, 10.9 miDriving time and distance, off peak.

To Ellsworth AFBdiffers

Hermosa
About 35 minutes, north through Rapid City to I-90Driving time and distance, off peak.
Edgemont
About 110 milesDistance only. Drive time is not measured for this community, so time it from the parcel.
Box Elder
9 min, 2.3 miDriving time and distance, off peak.

Winter drivingdiffers

Hermosa
US 79 is state maintained and is the reason the commute works. Town streets and county roads clear on their own schedule.
Edgemont
Cold semi-arid country with a recorded low of 40 below. US 18 is the lifeline and it is a long way to anywhere in a storm.
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.

Housing and lots

Typical pricediffers

Hermosa
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.
Edgemont
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.
Box Elder
$340k to $400kMedian sold $367,000. Black Hills MLS, single family, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 235 closed sales.

Housing agediffers

Hermosa
A mix, with older in-town stock and newer building on the edges.
Edgemont
An 1890 railroad town, so mostly older stock, with about a quarter of units vacant at the 2020 count.
Box Elder
Heavily new construction since the B-21 announcement

New constructiondiffers

Hermosa
Limited, mostly infill and small projects
Edgemont
None underway
Box Elder
Active, with subdivisions still building

Acreagediffers

Hermosa
Acreage parcels are common here
Edgemont
Acreage parcels are common here
Box Elder
Not recorded townwide in this guide. The recorded plat carries the lot size.

Typical lotdiffers

Hermosa
Small town lots inside the limits, acreage outside them.
Edgemont
Town lots inside the limits, ranch scale outside them.
Box Elder
Small city lots, about 0.15 to 0.18 acres in the newer plats

Covenants and HOAdiffers

Covenants are recorded per plat. The title commitment lists what binds the parcel.
Hermosa
Few plats here carry recorded covenants
Edgemont
Few plats here carry recorded covenants
Box Elder
Not recorded townwide in this guide. Read the recorded documents for the plat.

Utilities and rules

Utility patterndiffers

Hermosa
Mixed, municipal service in town with well and septic outside it
Edgemont
City water and sewer inside the limits
Box Elder
City water and sewer inside the limits

Waterdiffers

Hermosa
Town of Hermosa water inside the limits. The Hermosa Water Users Association is a separate system, and rural parcels are commonly on private wells. Which one serves a given address has to be checked address by address.
Edgemont
City of Edgemont municipal water. Rural parcels are on private wells.
Box Elder
City of Box Elder municipal

Sewerdiffers

Hermosa
Town sewer with lagoon treatment inside the limits, currently being expanded. Rural parcels are on private septic.
Edgemont
City sewer inside the limits, with private septic on rural parcels.
Box Elder
City of Box Elder municipal

Short term rentalsdiffers

Hermosa
Hermosa sits on the road to Custer State Park, which makes short-term rental a real question here. Nothing in the public record confirms a town ordinance either way, so confirm with the town before you count on the income.
Edgemont
Edgemont is not a tourism town. Short-term rental demand here is work crews, hunting season and Rally traffic passing through, not visitors staying to see something.
Box Elder
A verify first town for rental plans, with one specific misconception the guide clears up.

Schools

School districtdiffers

Hermosa
Custer School District 16-1Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
Edgemont
Edgemont School District 23-1Assignment 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.

Daily errands

Groceriesdiffers

Hermosa
Pop's Grocery Shoppe on North Ferguson Street, a full grocery in town since 2007. Anything larger is Rapid City, 26 minutes north.
Edgemont
Small-town grocery and convenience in Edgemont, with Hot Springs about 35 miles east for more.
Box Elder
Lynn's Dakotamart is a full-service grocery store in town.

Healthcarediffers

Hermosa
No clinic in town. Monument Health Rapid City Hospital is about 22 minutes north, and Monument Health Custer Hospital is about 27 miles southwest.
Edgemont
No hospital in town. Fall River Health Services in Hot Springs is a 25 bed critical access hospital with a 24 hour emergency department.
Box Elder
Monument Health Box Elder Clinic provides primary and urgent care in town. Hospital-level care is in Rapid City.

Recreationdiffers

Hermosa
Custer State Park is the back door, with Battle Creek running at the edge of town and the Buffalo Gap National Grassland to the east.
Edgemont
The hundred-year-old city park, the campground, the Elk Mountains and open country in every direction.
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.

Mapped subdivisions

Outlines on filediffers

Hermosa
No recorded subdivision outlines drawn for this community yet.
Edgemont
No recorded subdivision outlines drawn for this community yet.
Box Elder
16 mapped outlines, 3 with a full guideReference outlines from county and city GIS, not surveys. The recorded plat controls.

The trade

Housing and patterndiffers

Hermosa
A working prairie town with its own grocery, library and county fairgrounds, at the point where the grassland meets the Hills.
Edgemont
A working BNSF crew-change town founded in 1890, at the far southern edge of the Hills below the Elk Mountains.
Box Elder
A young city building its first downtown at Liberty Plaza on 110 acres, with roughly 800 residential units planned.

What you gaindiffers

Hermosa
Elementary and middle school in town, 26 minutes from Rapid City, with larger lots and rural utility tradeoffs common outside town.
Edgemont
More town per dollar than anywhere else in the region, with its own school district and city utilities.
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.

What you give updiffers

Hermosa
High school is 27 miles away in Custer, and the water arrangement changes parcel to parcel.
Edgemont
A hundred miles from Rapid City, 35 from a hospital, with two unresolved questions hanging over the local economy.
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.
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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