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

  • 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.
    SelectedGuide

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

  • 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.
    SelectedGuide

  • 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 Spearfish, Belle Fourche, Edgemont, Custer

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

Region
SpearfishNorthern Hills and I-90Belle FourcheNorthern Hills and I-90EdgemontCentral and Southern HillsCusterCentral and Southern Hills
County
SpearfishLawrence CountyBelle FourcheButte CountyEdgemontFall River CountyCusterCuster County
Jurisdiction
SpearfishNot recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.Belle FourcheNot recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.EdgemontIncorporated city of Edgemont, with Fall River County outside the limits.CusterNot recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.
Corridor
SpearfishI-90Belle FourcheUS-85 and SD-34EdgemontUS 18 and SD 471CusterUS-16
To downtown Rapid City
Spearfish53 min, 47.8 miBelle FourcheAbout 55 to 60 minutesEdgemontAbout 100 miles northeastCusterAbout 50 to 60 minutes
To Ellsworth AFB
Spearfish68 min, 57.0 miBelle FourcheAbout an hourEdgemontAbout 110 milesCusterAbout an hour and ten minutes
Side by side

Spearfish, Belle Fourche, Edgemont, 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

Spearfish
Northern Hills and I-90
Belle Fourche
Northern Hills and I-90
Edgemont
Central and Southern Hills
Custer
Central and Southern Hills

Countydiffers

Spearfish
Lawrence County
Belle Fourche
Butte County
Edgemont
Fall River County
Custer
Custer County

Jurisdictiondiffers

City versus county decides who provides service and who inspects the work.
Spearfish
Not recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.
Belle Fourche
Not recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.
Edgemont
Incorporated city of Edgemont, with Fall River County outside the limits.
Custer
Not recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.

Corridordiffers

Spearfish
I-90
Belle Fourche
US-85 and SD-34
Edgemont
US 18 and SD 471
Custer
US-16

To downtown Rapid Citydiffers

Spearfish
53 min, 47.8 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
Belle Fourche
About 55 to 60 minutesDriving 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.
Custer
About 50 to 60 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.

To Ellsworth AFBdiffers

Spearfish
68 min, 57.0 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
Belle Fourche
About an hourDriving time and distance, off peak.
Edgemont
About 110 milesDistance only. Drive time is not measured for this community, so time it from the parcel.
Custer
About an hour and ten minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.

Winter drivingdiffers

Spearfish
Chinook winds off the hills are a genuine feature of winter in this corridor.
Belle Fourche
Out on the acreage the question is who maintains the road in winter, and it is worth asking in writing.
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.
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

Spearfish
$400k to $600kMedian sold $475,000. Mount Rushmore Area MLS, all residential, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 199 closed sales.
Belle Fourche
$275k to $375kMedian sold $300,000. Mount Rushmore Area MLS, all residential, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 113 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.
Custer
Median sold $627,000Black Hills MLS, single family, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 7 closed sales, small sample.

Housing agediffers

Spearfish
Older stock in the middle, edge subdivisions built 1996 to 2023
Belle Fourche
Older homes in town, newer construction on the edges
Edgemont
An 1890 railroad town, so mostly older stock, with about a quarter of units vacant at the 2020 count.
Custer
Mixed ages. Older homes near the core, newer construction toward the edges.

New constructiondiffers

Spearfish
New construction remains active on the edges of town, including areas such as Sky Ridge and other newer developments.
Belle Fourche
Limited, mostly infill and small projects
Edgemont
None underway
Custer
Not recorded townwide in this guide. Check current permits with the city or county.

Acreagediffers

Spearfish
Acreage is available around Spearfish, primarily on surrounding Lawrence County ground rather than in the city core.
Belle Fourche
Larger lots and acreage become more common around the edges of Belle Fourche and in nearby rural subdivisions.
Edgemont
Acreage parcels are common here
Custer
Acreage is common outside the city core, with wells and septic systems typical on many rural properties.

Typical lotdiffers

Spearfish
Not recorded townwide in this guide. The recorded plat carries the lot dimensions.
Belle Fourche
Generous in town, acreage out past it
Edgemont
Town lots inside the limits, ranch scale outside them.
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.
Spearfish
Recorded covenants on some plats, none on others
Belle Fourche
Not recorded townwide in this guide. Read the recorded documents for the plat.
Edgemont
Few plats here carry recorded covenants
Custer
Not recorded townwide in this guide. Read the recorded documents for the plat.

Utilities and rules

Utility patterndiffers

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.
Belle Fourche
Mixed, municipal service in town with well and septic outside it
Edgemont
City water and sewer inside the limits
Custer
Mixed, municipal service in town with well and septic outside it

Waterdiffers

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.
Belle Fourche
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.
Edgemont
City of Edgemont municipal water. Rural parcels are on private wells.
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

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.
Belle Fourche
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.
Edgemont
City sewer inside the limits, with private septic on rural parcels.
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

Spearfish
The city studied rules in 2023 and 2024 and maintains an official short term rental page. Verify the current ordinance first.
Belle Fourche
General zoning and state rules do the work in Belle Fourche. Confirm the lodging use category with city hall for the address before you count on rental 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.
Custer
Grandfathered permits are non transferable and expire when the property sells, and the rules flip at the city line.

Schools

School districtdiffers

Spearfish
Spearfish School District 40-2Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
Belle Fourche
Belle Fourche School District 9-1Assignment 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.
Custer
Custer School District 16-1Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.

Daily errands

Groceriesdiffers

Spearfish
Full-service grocery options in town include Walmart, Safeway and Lueders Food Centers.
Belle Fourche
Full-service grocery options in town include Lueders Food Centers and Lynn's Dakotamart.
Edgemont
Small-town grocery and convenience in Edgemont, with Hot Springs about 35 miles east for more.
Custer
Lynn's Dakotamart is a full-service grocery store in town.

Healthcarediffers

Spearfish
Monument Health Spearfish Hospital and outpatient clinics are in town.
Belle Fourche
Monument Health has a clinic in Belle Fourche. Hospital-level care is available in Spearfish.
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.
Custer
Monument Health Custer Hospital and clinic are in town.

Recreationdiffers

Spearfish
D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery, Black Hills State University events, and Terry Peak and Deadwood a short drive south.
Belle Fourche
The Geographic Center of the Nation monument, the Tri-State Museum, and the Black Hills Roundup rodeo every Fourth of July week since 1918.
Edgemont
The hundred-year-old city park, the campground, the Elk Mountains and open country in every direction.
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

Spearfish
25 mapped outlines, 13 with a full guideReference outlines from county and city GIS, not surveys. The recorded plat controls.
Belle Fourche
No recorded subdivision outlines drawn for this community yet.
Edgemont
No recorded subdivision outlines drawn for this community yet.
Custer
No recorded subdivision outlines drawn for this community yet.

The trade

Housing and patterndiffers

Spearfish
A university town with a walkable middle, growing fast enough that new construction has moved to the edges.
Belle Fourche
A ranching hub with a working main street, mature trees and a rodeo the whole town turns out for.
Edgemont
A working BNSF crew-change town founded in 1890, at the far southern edge of the Hills below the Elk Mountains.
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

Spearfish
A downtown you can walk across, Black Hills State and Spearfish Canyon out the back door, on city water and sewer.
Belle Fourche
A $300,000 median across 113 trailing twelve month sales, under Spearfish, Sturgis and Deadwood, with acreage out past town.
Edgemont
More town per dollar than anywhere else in the region, with its own school district and city utilities.
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

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.
Belle Fourche
Rapid City is 55 to 60 minutes and Ellsworth about an hour, so this is a commute you pick on purpose.
Edgemont
A hundred miles from Rapid City, 35 from a hospital, with two unresolved questions hanging over the local economy.
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

Contact

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.

Call 605-490-2040Text 605-490-2040Send a Message
Address Questions

Considering a home here?

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.

Or send a message from the contact page

ComparingSpearfish, Belle Fourche, Edgemont, Custer

CompareClear
Call HenryEmail