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.
4 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.
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
- 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.
- 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.
Between Hill City, Rapid City
The rows below are the ones where these do not read the same. Ordered as the table runs, not by importance.
- Region
- Hill CityCentral and Southern HillsRapid CityRapid City and the Ellsworth corridor
- Jurisdiction
- Hill CityNot recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.Rapid CityCity of Rapid City
- Corridor
- Hill CityUS-16Rapid CityI-90 along the north edge
- To downtown Rapid City
- Hill CityAbout 30 to 35 minutes on US-16Rapid City5 min, 1.5 mi
- To Ellsworth AFB
- Hill CityAbout 45 minutesRapid City24 min, 13.8 mi
- Winter driving
- Hill CityUS-16 is state maintained. The forest roads off it climb, and elevation adds snow to whatever falls in town.Rapid CityApril is the snowiest month at 10.1 inches on average, and the city averages about five inches a month against fifteen up in the Hills.
Hill City, Rapid City
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.
| Attribute | Central and Southern HillsHill City | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | ||
| Regiondiffers | Central and Southern Hills | Rapid City and the Ellsworth corridor |
| County | Pennington County | Pennington County |
| JurisdictiondiffersCity versus county decides who provides service and who inspects the work. | Not recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground. | City of Rapid City |
| Corridordiffers | US-16 | I-90 along the north edge |
| To downtown Rapid Citydiffers | About 30 to 35 minutes on US-16Driving time and distance, off peak. | 5 min, 1.5 miDriving time and distance, off peak. |
| To Ellsworth AFBdiffers | About 45 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak. | 24 min, 13.8 miDriving time and distance, off peak. |
| Winter drivingdiffers | US-16 is state maintained. The forest roads off it climb, and elevation adds snow to whatever falls in town. | April is the snowiest month at 10.1 inches on average, and the city averages about five inches a month against fifteen up in the Hills. |
| Housing and lots | ||
| Typical pricediffers | Median sold $519,000Black Hills MLS, single family, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 13 closed sales. | $300k to $450kMedian sold $349,950. Black Hills MLS, single family, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 706 closed sales. |
| Housing agediffers | Mixed ages. Older homes near the core, newer construction toward the edges. | Everything from 1875 downtown streets to current new construction |
| New constructiondiffers | Limited infill and small-scale new construction occur around Hill City rather than large production neighborhoods. | Active, with subdivisions still building |
| Acreagediffers | Not recorded townwide in this guide. The recorded plat carries the lot size. | Some acreage, mostly platted town lots |
| Utilities and rules | ||
| Utility patterndiffers | Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify water and sewer service for the address. | City water and sewer inside the limits |
| Waterdiffers | Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify the provider for the address. | City of Rapid City municipal |
| Sewerdiffers | Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify the service for the address. | City of Rapid City sanitary sewer |
| Short term rentalsdiffers | Existing short term rental rights in residential zones do not transfer when a property sells. That is the trap. | Vacation rentals inside city limits are regulated, and the ordinance is recent. Read the guide before you count on rental income. |
| Schools | ||
| School districtdiffers | Hill City School District 51-2Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district. | Rapid City Area Schools 51-4Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district. |
| Daily errands | ||
| Groceriesdiffers | Krull's Market is a full-service grocery store in town. | Groceries, the hospital and the airport are all inside the city, so a supply run is minutes rather than a trip. |
| Healthcarediffers | Monument Health has a clinic in Hill City. Hospital-level care is in Rapid City, roughly 30 to 35 minutes away in clear conditions. | Monument Health's main campus is here, which is the reason a lot of the region drives in. |
| Recreationdiffers | The 1880 Train departs downtown, Crazy Horse Memorial is about 12 miles away, and Stone Faces Winery and Naked Winery are close. | Main Street Square and Art Alley downtown, with Mount Rushmore southwest, Custer State Park south and the Badlands east. |
| Mapped subdivisions | ||
| Outlines on filediffers | No recorded subdivision outlines drawn for this community yet. | 13 mapped outlines, 13 with a full guideReference outlines from county and city GIS, not surveys. The recorded plat controls. |
| The trade | ||
| Housing and patterndiffers | A small mountain main street that triples every summer and empties out by October, with the 1880 Train leaving from downtown. | A working city with a real downtown, older streets with mature trees near the middle and new subdivisions on the edges. |
| What you gaindiffers | Main Street in the middle of the central hills, the Mickelson Trail through town, Sylvan Lake and Crazy Horse a short drive, and 30 to 35 minutes to Rapid City on US-16. | Everything the region has sits in one place: Monument Health, the airport, the widest run of housing stock, and 24 minutes to the Ellsworth gate. |
| What you give updiffers | Rental rights do not survive a sale, and only 13 homes closed here in twelve months, so pricing rests on a small sample. | You buy into the region's deepest demand, and the recent vacation rental ordinance limits what you can do with a house you do not live in. |
- Central and Southern HillsHill City
Where it sits
Regiondiffers
- Hill City
- Central and Southern Hills
- Rapid City
- Rapid City and the Ellsworth corridor
County
- Hill City
- Pennington County
- Rapid City
- Pennington County
Jurisdictiondiffers
City versus county decides who provides service and who inspects the work.- Hill City
- Not recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.
- Rapid City
- City of Rapid City
Corridordiffers
- Hill City
- US-16
- Rapid City
- I-90 along the north edge
To downtown Rapid Citydiffers
- Hill City
- About 30 to 35 minutes on US-16Driving time and distance, off peak.
- Rapid City
- 5 min, 1.5 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
To Ellsworth AFBdiffers
- Hill City
- About 45 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
- Rapid City
- 24 min, 13.8 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
Winter drivingdiffers
- Hill City
- US-16 is state maintained. The forest roads off it climb, and elevation adds snow to whatever falls in town.
- Rapid City
- April is the snowiest month at 10.1 inches on average, and the city averages about five inches a month against fifteen up in the Hills.
Housing and lots
Typical pricediffers
- Hill City
- Median sold $519,000Black Hills MLS, single family, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 13 closed sales.
- Rapid City
- $300k to $450kMedian sold $349,950. Black Hills MLS, single family, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 706 closed sales.
Housing agediffers
- Hill City
- Mixed ages. Older homes near the core, newer construction toward the edges.
- Rapid City
- Everything from 1875 downtown streets to current new construction
New constructiondiffers
- Hill City
- Limited infill and small-scale new construction occur around Hill City rather than large production neighborhoods.
- Rapid City
- Active, with subdivisions still building
Acreagediffers
- Hill City
- Not recorded townwide in this guide. The recorded plat carries the lot size.
- Rapid City
- Some acreage, mostly platted town lots
Utilities and rules
Utility patterndiffers
- Hill City
- Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify water and sewer service for the address.
- Rapid City
- City water and sewer inside the limits
Waterdiffers
- Hill City
- Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify the provider for the address.
- Rapid City
- City of Rapid City municipal
Sewerdiffers
- Hill City
- Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify the service for the address.
- Rapid City
- City of Rapid City sanitary sewer
Short term rentalsdiffers
- Hill City
- Existing short term rental rights in residential zones do not transfer when a property sells. That is the trap.
- Rapid City
- Vacation rentals inside city limits are regulated, and the ordinance is recent. Read the guide before you count on rental income.
Schools
School districtdiffers
- Hill City
- Hill City School District 51-2Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
- Rapid City
- Rapid City Area Schools 51-4Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
Daily errands
Groceriesdiffers
- Hill City
- Krull's Market is a full-service grocery store in town.
- Rapid City
- Groceries, the hospital and the airport are all inside the city, so a supply run is minutes rather than a trip.
Healthcarediffers
- Hill City
- Monument Health has a clinic in Hill City. Hospital-level care is in Rapid City, roughly 30 to 35 minutes away in clear conditions.
- Rapid City
- Monument Health's main campus is here, which is the reason a lot of the region drives in.
Recreationdiffers
- Hill City
- The 1880 Train departs downtown, Crazy Horse Memorial is about 12 miles away, and Stone Faces Winery and Naked Winery are close.
- Rapid City
- Main Street Square and Art Alley downtown, with Mount Rushmore southwest, Custer State Park south and the Badlands east.
Mapped subdivisions
Outlines on filediffers
- Hill City
- No recorded subdivision outlines drawn for this community yet.
- Rapid City
- 13 mapped outlines, 13 with a full guideReference outlines from county and city GIS, not surveys. The recorded plat controls.
The trade
Housing and patterndiffers
- Hill City
- A small mountain main street that triples every summer and empties out by October, with the 1880 Train leaving from downtown.
- Rapid City
- A working city with a real downtown, older streets with mature trees near the middle and new subdivisions on the edges.
What you gaindiffers
- Hill City
- Main Street in the middle of the central hills, the Mickelson Trail through town, Sylvan Lake and Crazy Horse a short drive, and 30 to 35 minutes to Rapid City on US-16.
- Rapid City
- Everything the region has sits in one place: Monument Health, the airport, the widest run of housing stock, and 24 minutes to the Ellsworth gate.
What you give updiffers
- Hill City
- Rental rights do not survive a sale, and only 13 homes closed here in twelve months, so pricing rests on a small sample.
- Rapid City
- You buy into the region's deepest demand, and the recent vacation rental ordinance limits what you can do with a house you do not live in.
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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