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.
5 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
- 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
- $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.
Between Lead and Deadwood, Blucksberg Mountain
The rows below are the ones where these do not read the same. Ordered as the table runs, not by importance.
- Region
- Lead and DeadwoodNorthern Hills and I-90Blucksberg MountainRapid City and the Ellsworth corridor
- County
- Lead and DeadwoodLawrence CountyBlucksberg MountainMeade County
- Jurisdiction
- Lead and DeadwoodNot recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.Blucksberg MountainUnincorporated Meade County
- Corridor
- Lead and DeadwoodUS-385 and US-14ABlucksberg MountainI-90
- To downtown Rapid City
- Lead and DeadwoodAbout 50 minutesBlucksberg MountainNot measured for this page.
- To Ellsworth AFB
- Lead and DeadwoodAbout 55 minutesBlucksberg MountainNot measured for this page.
Lead and Deadwood, Blucksberg Mountain
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 | Rapid City and the Ellsworth corridorBlucksberg Mountain | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | ||
| Regiondiffers | Northern Hills and I-90 | Rapid City and the Ellsworth corridor |
| Countydiffers | Lawrence County | Meade 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. | Unincorporated Meade County |
| Corridordiffers | US-385 and US-14A | I-90 |
| To downtown Rapid Citydiffers | About 50 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak. | Not measured for this page.Drive time is not measured for this community. Time it from the parcel itself. |
| To Ellsworth AFBdiffers | About 55 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak. | Not measured for this page.Drive time is not measured for this community. Time it from the parcel itself. |
| Winter drivingdiffers | Lead averages 183.9 inches of snow a year, so plowing, driveway grade and which way it faces are part of the budget. | This is hill ground off the interstate. Ask who plows the interior road serving the parcel, because some are not county maintained. |
| Housing and lots | ||
| Typical pricediffers | $320k to $500kMedian sold $385,000. Mount Rushmore Area MLS, all residential, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 117 closed sales. | 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. |
| Housing agediffers | Historic stock, plus Powder House Pass as the newest product up here | Mixed ages. Older homes near the core, newer construction toward the edges. |
| New constructiondiffers | Limited, mostly infill and small projects | Not recorded townwide in this guide. Check current permits with the city or county. |
| Acreagediffers | Mountain acreage exists outside the denser town centers, with access, well, septic and winter-maintenance considerations varying by property. | Acreage parcels are common here |
| Covenants and HOACovenants are recorded per plat. The title commitment lists what binds the parcel. | Recorded covenants on some plats, none on others | Recorded covenants on some plats, none on others |
| Utilities and rules | ||
| Utility patterndiffers | Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify water and sewer service for the address. | Mixed, municipal service in town with well and septic outside it |
| Waterdiffers | Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify the provider for the address. | Varies by plat. Blucksberg Mountain #1 is a regulated community water system. Confirm provider and rate by parcel. |
| Sewerdiffers | Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify the service for the address. | Septic common in current listings. Confirm the system by address. |
| Short term rentalsdiffers | Three jurisdictions within a few miles give three different answers. This is where guessing gets expensive. | Short term rental rules here come from Meade County and from the covenants on the recorded plat, not from a city ordinance. |
| Schools | ||
| School districtdiffers | Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district. | Meade School District 46-1Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district. |
| Daily errands | ||
| Healthcarediffers | Monument Health Lead-Deadwood Hospital and clinic provide hospital-level and outpatient care in the area. | Not recorded in this guide. Confirm the nearest clinic and hospital by address. |
| Recreationdiffers | Terry Peak, a 7,100 foot summit with 1,100 feet of vertical and 30 trails, plus Deadwood gaming and the historic district. | Not recorded in this guide. Read the guide for what residents use here. |
| Mapped subdivisions | ||
| Outlines on filediffers | 55 mapped outlines, 0 with a full guideReference outlines from county and city GIS, not surveys. The recorded plat controls. | No recorded subdivision outlines drawn for this community yet. |
| The trade | ||
| Housing and patterndiffers | High elevation historic streets, with Terry Peak, the Mickelson Trail and the Powder House Pass covenants and Community Improvement District just south of Lead. | Five separate recorded plats of residential acreage on the hill between Rapid City and Sturgis, unincorporated. |
| What you gaindiffers | Elevation, Terry Peak measured in minutes, the Mickelson Trail and historic streets you cannot build a copy of. | Read the guide |
| What you give updiffers | 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. | Utilities, roads and covenants change from one recorded plat to the next, so nothing you learn about one street transfers to the next one over. |
- Rapid City and the Ellsworth corridorBlucksberg Mountain
Where it sits
Regiondiffers
- Lead and Deadwood
- Northern Hills and I-90
- Blucksberg Mountain
- Rapid City and the Ellsworth corridor
Countydiffers
- Lead and Deadwood
- Lawrence County
- Blucksberg Mountain
- Meade County
Jurisdictiondiffers
City versus county decides who provides service and who inspects the work.- Lead and Deadwood
- Not recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.
- Blucksberg Mountain
- Unincorporated Meade County
Corridordiffers
- Lead and Deadwood
- US-385 and US-14A
- Blucksberg Mountain
- I-90
To downtown Rapid Citydiffers
- Lead and Deadwood
- About 50 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
- Blucksberg Mountain
- Not measured for this page.Drive time is not measured for this community. Time it from the parcel itself.
To Ellsworth AFBdiffers
- Lead and Deadwood
- About 55 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
- Blucksberg Mountain
- Not measured for this page.Drive time is not measured for this community. Time it from the parcel itself.
Winter drivingdiffers
- 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.
- Blucksberg Mountain
- This is hill ground off the interstate. Ask who plows the interior road serving the parcel, because some are not county maintained.
Housing and lots
Typical pricediffers
- 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.
- Blucksberg Mountain
- 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.
Housing agediffers
- Lead and Deadwood
- Historic stock, plus Powder House Pass as the newest product up here
- Blucksberg Mountain
- Mixed ages. Older homes near the core, newer construction toward the edges.
New constructiondiffers
- Lead and Deadwood
- Limited, mostly infill and small projects
- Blucksberg Mountain
- Not recorded townwide in this guide. Check current permits with the city or county.
Acreagediffers
- Lead and Deadwood
- Mountain acreage exists outside the denser town centers, with access, well, septic and winter-maintenance considerations varying by property.
- Blucksberg Mountain
- Acreage parcels are common here
Covenants and HOA
Covenants are recorded per plat. The title commitment lists what binds the parcel.- Lead and Deadwood
- Recorded covenants on some plats, none on others
- Blucksberg Mountain
- Recorded covenants on some plats, none on others
Utilities and rules
Utility patterndiffers
- Lead and Deadwood
- Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify water and sewer service for the address.
- Blucksberg Mountain
- Mixed, municipal service in town with well and septic outside it
Waterdiffers
- Lead and Deadwood
- Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify the provider for the address.
- Blucksberg Mountain
- Varies by plat. Blucksberg Mountain #1 is a regulated community water system. Confirm provider and rate by parcel.
Sewerdiffers
- Lead and Deadwood
- Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify the service for the address.
- Blucksberg Mountain
- Septic common in current listings. Confirm the system by address.
Short term rentalsdiffers
- Lead and Deadwood
- Three jurisdictions within a few miles give three different answers. This is where guessing gets expensive.
- Blucksberg Mountain
- Short term rental rules here come from Meade County and from the covenants on the recorded plat, not from a city ordinance.
Schools
School districtdiffers
- Lead and Deadwood
- Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
- Blucksberg Mountain
- Meade School District 46-1Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
Daily errands
Healthcarediffers
- Lead and Deadwood
- Monument Health Lead-Deadwood Hospital and clinic provide hospital-level and outpatient care in the area.
- Blucksberg Mountain
- Not recorded in this guide. Confirm the nearest clinic and hospital by address.
Recreationdiffers
- 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.
- Blucksberg Mountain
- Not recorded in this guide. Read the guide for what residents use here.
Mapped subdivisions
Outlines on filediffers
- Lead and Deadwood
- 55 mapped outlines, 0 with a full guideReference outlines from county and city GIS, not surveys. The recorded plat controls.
- Blucksberg Mountain
- No recorded subdivision outlines drawn for this community yet.
The trade
Housing and patterndiffers
- 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.
- Blucksberg Mountain
- Five separate recorded plats of residential acreage on the hill between Rapid City and Sturgis, unincorporated.
What you gaindiffers
- Lead and Deadwood
- Elevation, Terry Peak measured in minutes, the Mickelson Trail and historic streets you cannot build a copy of.
- Blucksberg Mountain
- Read the guide
What you give updiffers
- 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.
- Blucksberg Mountain
- Utilities, roads and covenants change from one recorded plat to the next, so nothing you learn about one street transfers to the next one over.
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
Want to talk through the tradeoffs?
Two towns can look identical in a table and feel nothing alike on a Tuesday night in February. Call or text and tell me which rows above are the ones you cannot live with, and we can work the list down from there.
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Send the address and we can talk it through. The details that change from one property to the next are jurisdiction, water and sewer, the school the district assigns, covenants, road maintenance and the rest of what never shows up on a listing.