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.
1 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
- $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.
Between St. Onge, Hill City
The rows below are the ones where these do not read the same. Ordered as the table runs, not by importance.
- Region
- St. OngeNorthern Hills and I-90Hill CityCentral and Southern Hills
- County
- St. OngeLawrence CountyHill CityPennington County
- Jurisdiction
- St. OngeUnincorporated. No town government. Lawrence County zones the parcels and the Sheriff patrols them.Hill CityNot recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.
- Corridor
- St. OngeSD 34, with I-90 seven miles southeast at WhitewoodHill CityUS-16
- To downtown Rapid City
- St. OngeAbout 44 miles, roughly 48 minutesHill CityAbout 30 to 35 minutes on US-16
- To Ellsworth AFB
- St. OngeAbout 45 milesHill CityAbout 45 minutes
St. Onge, Hill 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 | Northern Hills and I-90St. Onge | Central and Southern HillsHill City |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | ||
| Regiondiffers | Northern Hills and I-90 | Central and Southern Hills |
| Countydiffers | Lawrence County | Pennington County |
| JurisdictiondiffersCity versus county decides who provides service and who inspects the work. | Unincorporated. No town government. Lawrence County zones the parcels and the Sheriff patrols them. | Not recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground. |
| Corridordiffers | SD 34, with I-90 seven miles southeast at Whitewood | US-16 |
| To downtown Rapid Citydiffers | About 44 miles, roughly 48 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak. | About 30 to 35 minutes on US-16Driving time and distance, off peak. |
| To Ellsworth AFBdiffers | About 45 milesDistance only. Drive time is not measured for this community, so time it from the parcel. | About 45 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak. |
| Winter drivingdiffers | Highway 34 is state maintained and connects three directions. County and private roads off it are a different conversation. | US-16 is state maintained. The forest roads off it climb, and elevation adds snow to whatever falls in town. |
| Housing and lots | ||
| Typical pricediffers | 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. | Median sold $519,000Black Hills MLS, single family, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 13 closed sales. |
| Housing agediffers | An 1891 townsite with genuinely old buildings, surrounded by ranch and acreage property of every era. | Mixed ages. Older homes near the core, newer construction toward the edges. |
| New constructiondiffers | Limited, mostly infill and small projects | Limited infill and small-scale new construction occur around Hill City rather than large production neighborhoods. |
| Acreagediffers | Acreage parcels are common here | Not recorded townwide in this guide. The recorded plat carries the lot size. |
| Typical lotdiffers | Small townsite lots, with acreage and ranch ground around them. | Not recorded townwide in this guide. The recorded plat carries the lot dimensions. |
| Covenants and HOAdiffersCovenants are recorded per plat. The title commitment lists what binds the parcel. | Few plats here carry recorded covenants | Not recorded townwide in this guide. Read the recorded documents for the plat. |
| Utilities and rules | ||
| Utility patterndiffers | Mostly private well and septic | Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify water and sewer service for the address. |
| Waterdiffers | The Saint Onge Sewer and Water Company serves about 78 connections around the townsite, with a clean compliance record. Parcels outside that system are on private wells. There is no rural water district covering this area. | Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify the provider for the address. |
| Sewerdiffers | The water company's name implies sewer service, but I have not been able to verify from the public record which parcels it reaches. Assume private septic outside the townsite and confirm the rest before closing. | Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify the service for the address. |
| Short term rentalsdiffers | Unincorporated Lawrence County, so no municipal ordinance applies. Note that unincorporated Lawrence County declined to require a vacation home rental permit, so there is no county permit to obtain either. | Existing short term rental rights in residential zones do not transfer when a property sells. That is the trap. |
| Schools | ||
| School districtdiffers | 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. | Hill City School District 51-2Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district. |
| Daily errands | ||
| Groceriesdiffers | Nothing in town. Spearfish is eleven miles southeast and Belle Fourche thirteen northwest. | Krull's Market is a full-service grocery store in town. |
| Healthcarediffers | Monument Health Spearfish Hospital, a 35 bed facility with a 24 hour emergency department, about 18 minutes away. | Monument Health has a clinic in Hill City. Hospital-level care is in Rapid City, roughly 30 to 35 minutes away in clear conditions. |
| Recreationdiffers | Creek bottoms, hay ground and hunting country, with Spearfish Canyon and the northern Hills half an hour away. | The 1880 Train departs downtown, Crazy Horse Memorial is about 12 miles away, and Stone Faces Winery and Naked Winery are close. |
| The trade | ||
| Housing and patterndiffers | An 1891 French-Canadian railroad townsite that is now a cattle auction crossroads and an acreage corridor. | A small mountain main street that triples every summer and empties out by October, with the 1880 Train leaving from downtown. |
| What you gaindiffers | The cheapest ground in the northern Hills that still puts you eleven miles from a hospital and sixteen from three towns. | 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. |
| What you give updiffers | A three-way school district split you have to verify per parcel, and no services of any kind in town. | Rental rights do not survive a sale, and only 13 homes closed here in twelve months, so pricing rests on a small sample. |
Where it sits
Regiondiffers
- St. Onge
- Northern Hills and I-90
- Hill City
- Central and Southern Hills
Countydiffers
- St. Onge
- Lawrence County
- Hill City
- Pennington County
Jurisdictiondiffers
City versus county decides who provides service and who inspects the work.- St. Onge
- Unincorporated. No town government. Lawrence County zones the parcels and the Sheriff patrols them.
- Hill City
- Not recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.
Corridordiffers
- St. Onge
- SD 34, with I-90 seven miles southeast at Whitewood
- Hill City
- US-16
To downtown Rapid Citydiffers
- St. Onge
- About 44 miles, roughly 48 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
- Hill City
- About 30 to 35 minutes on US-16Driving time and distance, off peak.
To Ellsworth AFBdiffers
- St. Onge
- About 45 milesDistance only. Drive time is not measured for this community, so time it from the parcel.
- Hill City
- About 45 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
Winter drivingdiffers
- St. Onge
- Highway 34 is state maintained and connects three directions. County and private roads off it are a different conversation.
- Hill City
- US-16 is state maintained. The forest roads off it climb, and elevation adds snow to whatever falls in town.
Housing and lots
Typical pricediffers
- St. Onge
- 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.
- Hill City
- Median sold $519,000Black Hills MLS, single family, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 13 closed sales.
Housing agediffers
- St. Onge
- An 1891 townsite with genuinely old buildings, surrounded by ranch and acreage property of every era.
- Hill City
- Mixed ages. Older homes near the core, newer construction toward the edges.
New constructiondiffers
- St. Onge
- Limited, mostly infill and small projects
- Hill City
- Limited infill and small-scale new construction occur around Hill City rather than large production neighborhoods.
Acreagediffers
- St. Onge
- Acreage parcels are common here
- Hill City
- Not recorded townwide in this guide. The recorded plat carries the lot size.
Typical lotdiffers
- St. Onge
- Small townsite lots, with acreage and ranch ground around them.
- Hill City
- 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.- St. Onge
- Few plats here carry recorded covenants
- Hill City
- Not recorded townwide in this guide. Read the recorded documents for the plat.
Utilities and rules
Utility patterndiffers
- St. Onge
- Mostly private well and septic
- Hill City
- Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify water and sewer service for the address.
Waterdiffers
- St. Onge
- The Saint Onge Sewer and Water Company serves about 78 connections around the townsite, with a clean compliance record. Parcels outside that system are on private wells. There is no rural water district covering this area.
- Hill City
- Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify the provider for the address.
Sewerdiffers
- St. Onge
- The water company's name implies sewer service, but I have not been able to verify from the public record which parcels it reaches. Assume private septic outside the townsite and confirm the rest before closing.
- Hill City
- Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify the service for the address.
Short term rentalsdiffers
- St. Onge
- Unincorporated Lawrence County, so no municipal ordinance applies. Note that unincorporated Lawrence County declined to require a vacation home rental permit, so there is no county permit to obtain either.
- Hill City
- Existing short term rental rights in residential zones do not transfer when a property sells. That is the trap.
Schools
School districtdiffers
- St. Onge
- 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.
- Hill City
- Hill City School District 51-2Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
Daily errands
Groceriesdiffers
- St. Onge
- Nothing in town. Spearfish is eleven miles southeast and Belle Fourche thirteen northwest.
- Hill City
- Krull's Market is a full-service grocery store in town.
Healthcarediffers
- St. Onge
- Monument Health Spearfish Hospital, a 35 bed facility with a 24 hour emergency department, about 18 minutes away.
- 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.
Recreationdiffers
- St. Onge
- Creek bottoms, hay ground and hunting country, with Spearfish Canyon and the northern Hills half an hour away.
- Hill City
- The 1880 Train departs downtown, Crazy Horse Memorial is about 12 miles away, and Stone Faces Winery and Naked Winery are close.
The trade
Housing and patterndiffers
- St. Onge
- An 1891 French-Canadian railroad townsite that is now a cattle auction crossroads and an acreage corridor.
- Hill City
- A small mountain main street that triples every summer and empties out by October, with the 1880 Train leaving from downtown.
What you gaindiffers
- St. Onge
- The cheapest ground in the northern Hills that still puts you eleven miles from a hospital and sixteen from three towns.
- 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.
What you give updiffers
- St. Onge
- A three-way school district split you have to verify per parcel, and no services of any kind in town.
- 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.
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.
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.