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 Rapid Valley, Lead and Deadwood
The rows below are the ones where these do not read the same. Ordered as the table runs, not by importance.
- Region
- Rapid ValleyRapid City and the Ellsworth corridorLead and DeadwoodNorthern Hills and I-90
- County
- Rapid ValleyPennington CountyLead and DeadwoodLawrence County
- Jurisdiction
- Rapid ValleyUnincorporated. There is no city government. Pennington County is the governing body, and Rapid City's subdivision rules still apply within three miles of the city limits.Lead and DeadwoodNot recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.
- Corridor
- Rapid ValleySD 44 and Elk Vale RoadLead and DeadwoodUS-385 and US-14A
- To downtown Rapid City
- Rapid Valley11 min, 5.2 miLead and DeadwoodAbout 50 minutes
- To Ellsworth AFB
- Rapid Valley22 min, 10.4 miLead and DeadwoodAbout 55 minutes
Rapid Valley, Lead and Deadwood
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 corridorRapid Valley | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | ||
| Regiondiffers | Rapid City and the Ellsworth corridor | Northern Hills and I-90 |
| Countydiffers | Pennington County | Lawrence County |
| JurisdictiondiffersCity versus county decides who provides service and who inspects the work. | Unincorporated. There is no city government. Pennington County is the governing body, and Rapid City's subdivision rules still apply within three miles of the city limits. | Not recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground. |
| Corridordiffers | SD 44 and Elk Vale Road | US-385 and US-14A |
| To downtown Rapid Citydiffers | 11 min, 5.2 miDriving time and distance, off peak. | About 50 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak. |
| To Ellsworth AFBdiffers | 22 min, 10.4 miDriving time and distance, off peak. | About 55 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak. |
| Winter drivingdiffers | Highway 44 and Elk Vale are state and county priorities. Interior subdivision streets are county maintained and clear after the arterials do. | Lead averages 183.9 inches of snow a year, so plowing, driveway grade and which way it faces are part of the budget. |
| Housing and lots | ||
| Typical pricediffers | 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. | $320k to $500kMedian sold $385,000. Mount Rushmore Area MLS, all residential, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 117 closed sales. |
| Housing agediffers | Mostly late twentieth century through current, with active building on the edges. | Historic stock, plus Powder House Pass as the newest product up here |
| New constructiondiffers | Active, with subdivisions still building | Limited, mostly infill and small projects |
| Acreagediffers | Some acreage, mostly platted town lots | Mountain acreage exists outside the denser town centers, with access, well, septic and winter-maintenance considerations varying by property. |
| Typical lotdiffers | Suburban lots through the core, larger parcels toward Reservoir and Radar Hill Roads. | Not recorded townwide in this guide. The recorded plat carries the lot dimensions. |
| 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 | 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. | Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify water and sewer service for the address. |
| Waterdiffers | Rapid Valley Sanitary District, treating Rapid Creek water at its own plant, with the ability to buy treated water from Rapid City at peak demand. Parcels outside the district are on private wells. | Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify the provider for the address. |
| Sewerdiffers | Rapid Valley Sanitary District owns and maintains the collection system, and Rapid City treats the wastewater under an intergovernmental agreement. Parcels outside the district are on private septic. | Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify the service for the address. |
| Fire protectiondiffersThe responding department and the distance to it both affect an insurance quote. | Rapid Valley Volunteer Fire Department, which also provides EMS and wildland response. | Not recorded townwide in this guide. Confirm the responding department by address. |
| Short term rentalsdiffers | Unincorporated Pennington County has no city short-term rental ordinance to comply with, which is not the same as no rules. County zoning and any subdivision covenants still govern, and state licensing applies. | Three jurisdictions within a few miles give three different answers. This is where guessing gets expensive. |
| Schools | ||
| School districtdiffers | 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. | Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district. |
| Daily errands | ||
| Groceriesdiffers | Retail and everyday shopping run along Highway 44 on the southern edge, with additional grocery options a few minutes west in Rapid City. | Not recorded in this guide. Check what is open near the address. |
| Healthcarediffers | Monument Health Rapid Valley Clinic provides primary and urgent care in the community. Hospital-level care is in Rapid City. | Monument Health Lead-Deadwood Hospital and clinic provide hospital-level and outpatient care in the area. |
| Recreationdiffers | Rapid Creek, the county parks east of town, and everything the Hills offer half an hour west. | Terry Peak, a 7,100 foot summit with 1,100 feet of vertical and 30 trails, plus Deadwood gaming and the historic district. |
| Mapped subdivisions | ||
| Outlines on filediffers | No recorded subdivision outlines drawn for this community yet. | 55 mapped outlines, 0 with a full guideReference outlines from county and city GIS, not surveys. The recorded plat controls. |
| The trade | ||
| Housing and patterndiffers | The region's largest unincorporated community: suburban streets, high ownership, county government. | High elevation historic streets, with Terry Peak, the Mickelson Trail and the Powder House Pass covenants and Community Improvement District just south of Lead. |
| What you gaindiffers | Rapid City schools and a five mile commute without Rapid City property taxes, plus a walk-in clinic in the neighborhood. | Elevation, Terry Peak measured in minutes, the Mickelson Trail and historic streets you cannot build a copy of. |
| What you give updiffers | No city services, a sanitary district bill instead of a city utility bill, and an annexation line that only the parcel record can settle. | 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. |
- Rapid City and the Ellsworth corridorRapid Valley
Where it sits
Regiondiffers
- Rapid Valley
- Rapid City and the Ellsworth corridor
- Lead and Deadwood
- Northern Hills and I-90
Countydiffers
- Rapid Valley
- Pennington County
- Lead and Deadwood
- Lawrence County
Jurisdictiondiffers
City versus county decides who provides service and who inspects the work.- Rapid Valley
- Unincorporated. There is no city government. Pennington County is the governing body, and Rapid City's subdivision rules still apply within three miles of the city limits.
- Lead and Deadwood
- Not recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.
Corridordiffers
- Rapid Valley
- SD 44 and Elk Vale Road
- Lead and Deadwood
- US-385 and US-14A
To downtown Rapid Citydiffers
- Rapid Valley
- 11 min, 5.2 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
- Lead and Deadwood
- About 50 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
To Ellsworth AFBdiffers
- Rapid Valley
- 22 min, 10.4 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
- Lead and Deadwood
- About 55 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
Winter drivingdiffers
- Rapid Valley
- Highway 44 and Elk Vale are state and county priorities. Interior subdivision streets are county maintained and clear after the arterials do.
- 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.
Housing and lots
Typical pricediffers
- Rapid Valley
- 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.
- 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.
Housing agediffers
- Rapid Valley
- Mostly late twentieth century through current, with active building on the edges.
- Lead and Deadwood
- Historic stock, plus Powder House Pass as the newest product up here
New constructiondiffers
- Rapid Valley
- Active, with subdivisions still building
- Lead and Deadwood
- Limited, mostly infill and small projects
Acreagediffers
- Rapid Valley
- Some acreage, mostly platted town lots
- Lead and Deadwood
- Mountain acreage exists outside the denser town centers, with access, well, septic and winter-maintenance considerations varying by property.
Typical lotdiffers
- Rapid Valley
- Suburban lots through the core, larger parcels toward Reservoir and Radar Hill Roads.
- Lead and Deadwood
- Not recorded townwide in this guide. The recorded plat carries the lot dimensions.
Covenants and HOA
Covenants are recorded per plat. The title commitment lists what binds the parcel.- Rapid Valley
- Recorded covenants on some plats, none on others
- Lead and Deadwood
- Recorded covenants on some plats, none on others
Utilities and rules
Utility patterndiffers
- Rapid Valley
- 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.
- Lead and Deadwood
- Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify water and sewer service for the address.
Waterdiffers
- Rapid Valley
- Rapid Valley Sanitary District, treating Rapid Creek water at its own plant, with the ability to buy treated water from Rapid City at peak demand. Parcels outside the district are on private wells.
- Lead and Deadwood
- Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify the provider for the address.
Sewerdiffers
- Rapid Valley
- Rapid Valley Sanitary District owns and maintains the collection system, and Rapid City treats the wastewater under an intergovernmental agreement. Parcels outside the district are on private septic.
- Lead and Deadwood
- Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify the service for the address.
Fire protectiondiffers
The responding department and the distance to it both affect an insurance quote.- Rapid Valley
- Rapid Valley Volunteer Fire Department, which also provides EMS and wildland response.
- Lead and Deadwood
- Not recorded townwide in this guide. Confirm the responding department by address.
Short term rentalsdiffers
- Rapid Valley
- Unincorporated Pennington County has no city short-term rental ordinance to comply with, which is not the same as no rules. County zoning and any subdivision covenants still govern, and state licensing applies.
- Lead and Deadwood
- Three jurisdictions within a few miles give three different answers. This is where guessing gets expensive.
Schools
School districtdiffers
- Rapid Valley
- 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.
- Lead and Deadwood
- Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
Daily errands
Groceriesdiffers
- Rapid Valley
- Retail and everyday shopping run along Highway 44 on the southern edge, with additional grocery options a few minutes west in Rapid City.
- Lead and Deadwood
- Not recorded in this guide. Check what is open near the address.
Healthcarediffers
- Rapid Valley
- Monument Health Rapid Valley Clinic provides primary and urgent care in the community. 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.
Recreationdiffers
- Rapid Valley
- Rapid Creek, the county parks east of town, and everything the Hills offer half an hour west.
- 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.
Mapped subdivisions
Outlines on filediffers
- Rapid Valley
- No recorded subdivision outlines drawn for this community yet.
- Lead and Deadwood
- 55 mapped outlines, 0 with a full guideReference outlines from county and city GIS, not surveys. The recorded plat controls.
The trade
Housing and patterndiffers
- Rapid Valley
- The region's largest unincorporated community: suburban streets, high ownership, county government.
- 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.
What you gaindiffers
- Rapid Valley
- Rapid City schools and a five mile commute without Rapid City property taxes, plus a walk-in clinic in the neighborhood.
- Lead and Deadwood
- Elevation, Terry Peak measured in minutes, the Mickelson Trail and historic streets you cannot build a copy of.
What you give updiffers
- Rapid Valley
- No city services, a sanitary district bill instead of a city utility bill, and an annexation line that only the parcel record can settle.
- 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.
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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