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.

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6 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.

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

Between Wall, Box Elder, Hill City, Keystone

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

Region
WallPrairie and BadlandsBox ElderRapid City and the Ellsworth corridorHill CityCentral and Southern HillsKeystoneCentral and Southern Hills
Jurisdiction
WallIncorporated town of Wall, with Pennington County outside the limits.Box ElderCity of Box ElderHill CityNot recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.KeystoneIncorporated town of Keystone, with unincorporated Pennington County on the surrounding hillsides.
Corridor
WallI-90 exits 109 and 110Box ElderI-90Hill CityUS-16KeystoneUS 16A
To downtown Rapid City
WallAbout 50 miles west on I-90Box Elder19 min, 10.9 miHill CityAbout 30 to 35 minutes on US-16KeystoneAbout 25 minutes northeast
To Ellsworth AFB
WallAbout 43 miles westBox Elder9 min, 2.3 miHill CityAbout 45 minutesKeystoneAbout 40 minutes
Winter driving
WallI-90 is the lifeline and it is state maintained, but this is open prairie and I-90 does close in a ground blizzard. Plan for that a few times a winter.Box ElderI-90 is state maintained and the city clears the newer plats. Box Elder publishes no plow priority map, so ask a neighbor how the street clears after a real storm.Hill CityUS-16 is state maintained. The forest roads off it climb, and elevation adds snow to whatever falls in town.KeystoneBlack Hills elevation on canyon roads, and a town that empties out for the season. Iron Mountain Road and the scenic routes are not winter commuting roads.
Side by side

Wall, Box Elder, Hill City, Keystone

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

Wall
Prairie and Badlands
Box Elder
Rapid City and the Ellsworth corridor
Hill City
Central and Southern Hills
Keystone
Central and Southern Hills

County

Wall
Pennington County
Box Elder
Pennington County
Hill City
Pennington County
Keystone
Pennington County

Jurisdictiondiffers

City versus county decides who provides service and who inspects the work.
Wall
Incorporated town of Wall, with Pennington County outside the limits.
Box Elder
City of Box Elder
Hill City
Not recorded townwide in this guide. The address decides whether it is city or county ground.
Keystone
Incorporated town of Keystone, with unincorporated Pennington County on the surrounding hillsides.

Corridordiffers

Wall
I-90 exits 109 and 110
Box Elder
I-90
Hill City
US-16
Keystone
US 16A

To downtown Rapid Citydiffers

Wall
About 50 miles west on I-90Distance only. Drive time is not measured for this community, so time it from the parcel.
Box Elder
19 min, 10.9 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
Hill City
About 30 to 35 minutes on US-16Driving time and distance, off peak.
Keystone
About 25 minutes northeastDriving time and distance, off peak.

To Ellsworth AFBdiffers

Wall
About 43 miles westDistance only. Drive time is not measured for this community, so time it from the parcel.
Box Elder
9 min, 2.3 miDriving time and distance, off peak.
Hill City
About 45 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.
Keystone
About 40 minutesDriving time and distance, off peak.

Winter drivingdiffers

Wall
I-90 is the lifeline and it is state maintained, but this is open prairie and I-90 does close in a ground blizzard. Plan for that a few times a winter.
Box Elder
I-90 is state maintained and the city clears the newer plats. Box Elder publishes no plow priority map, so ask a neighbor how the street clears after a real storm.
Hill City
US-16 is state maintained. The forest roads off it climb, and elevation adds snow to whatever falls in town.
Keystone
Black Hills elevation on canyon roads, and a town that empties out for the season. Iron Mountain Road and the scenic routes are not winter commuting roads.

Housing and lots

Typical pricediffers

Wall
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.
Box Elder
$340k to $400kMedian sold $367,000. Black Hills MLS, single family, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 235 closed sales.
Hill City
Median sold $519,000Black Hills MLS, single family, trailing 12 months, as of August 2026. 13 closed sales.
Keystone
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.

Housing agediffers

Wall
Older stock through town, with a municipal demolition incentive program in place for blighted property.
Box Elder
Heavily new construction since the B-21 announcement
Hill City
Mixed ages. Older homes near the core, newer construction toward the edges.
Keystone
An 1883 mining town, so genuinely old stock alongside newer builds and cabins.

New constructiondiffers

Wall
Limited, mostly infill and small projects
Box Elder
Active, with subdivisions still building
Hill City
Limited infill and small-scale new construction occur around Hill City rather than large production neighborhoods.
Keystone
Limited, mostly infill and small projects

Acreagediffers

Wall
Acreage parcels are common here
Box Elder
Not recorded townwide in this guide. The recorded plat carries the lot size.
Hill City
Not recorded townwide in this guide. The recorded plat carries the lot size.
Keystone
Some acreage, mostly platted town lots

Typical lotdiffers

Wall
Platted town lots, and then it jumps straight to ranch scale.
Box Elder
Small city lots, about 0.15 to 0.18 acres in the newer plats
Hill City
Not recorded townwide in this guide. The recorded plat carries the lot dimensions.
Keystone
Small and steep in town, larger on the surrounding hillsides outside the limits.

Covenants and HOAdiffers

Covenants are recorded per plat. The title commitment lists what binds the parcel.
Wall
Few plats here carry recorded covenants
Box Elder
Not recorded townwide in this guide. Read the recorded documents for the plat.
Hill City
Not recorded townwide in this guide. Read the recorded documents for the plat.
Keystone
Few plats here carry recorded covenants

Utilities and rules

Utility patterndiffers

Wall
City water and sewer inside the limits
Box Elder
City water and sewer inside the limits
Hill City
Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify water and sewer service for the address.
Keystone
Mixed, municipal service in town with well and septic outside it

Waterdiffers

Wall
Town of Wall municipal water inside the limits. Rural parcels are on private wells.
Box Elder
City of Box Elder municipal
Hill City
Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify the provider for the address.
Keystone
Town of Keystone municipal water inside the limits, drawn from town wells, with no violations on its current record. Parcels outside the town limits are on private wells.

Sewerdiffers

Wall
Town sewer inside the limits, with private septic on rural parcels.
Box Elder
City of Box Elder municipal
Hill City
Not recorded townwide in this guide. Verify the service for the address.
Keystone
Confirm with the town before you rely on it. The town operates public works, but I have not been able to verify from the public record whether it runs a collection system or which parcels it reaches. Outside the limits, expect private septic.

Short term rentalsdiffers

Wall
This is genuine seasonal tourism territory at a national park gate. Confirm any town requirement, and note that Wall Drug houses many of its own seasonal workers, which removes demand from the local rental market.
Box Elder
A verify first town for rental plans, with one specific misconception the guide clears up.
Hill City
Existing short term rental rights in residential zones do not transfer when a property sells. That is the trap.
Keystone
A 2 percent municipal lodging tax applies to transient stays. Whether a separate short term rental ordinance exists is not clear from the public record, so confirm with the town in writing.

Schools

School districtdiffers

Wall
Wall School District 51-5Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.
Box Elder
Douglas School District 51-1Assignment 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.
Keystone
Hill City School District 51-2Assignment follows the official boundary for the address. Confirm with the district.

Daily errands

Groceriesdiffers

Wall
The Wall Food Center on South Boulevard West.
Box Elder
Lynn's Dakotamart is a full-service grocery store in town.
Hill City
Krull's Market is a full-service grocery store in town.
Keystone
Nothing full service in town. Hill City is the closest small grocery and Rapid City is the real shopping, about 25 minutes northeast.

Healthcarediffers

Wall
The Monument Health Wall Clinic on 7th Avenue is in town. The nearest hospital is Monument Health Rapid City, roughly 50 miles west.
Box Elder
Monument Health Box Elder Clinic provides primary and urgent care in town. Hospital-level care is in Rapid City.
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.
Keystone
No clinic in town. Monument Health Custer Hospital has a 24 hour emergency department, and Rapid City has the larger hospital.

Recreationdiffers

Wall
Badlands National Park about seven miles south, Buffalo Gap National Grassland all around, the National Grasslands Visitor Center on Main Street and the Wall rodeo arena.
Box Elder
The Liberty Center, the city park and ballfield network, and the South Dakota Air and Space Museum are the in-town recreation. The Badlands are a day trip, not your neighborhood park.
Hill City
The 1880 Train departs downtown, Crazy Horse Memorial is about 12 miles away, and Stone Faces Winery and Naked Winery are close.
Keystone
Mount Rushmore is past the town boundary, the 1880 Train runs from the Winter Street depot, and Custer State Park and the Norbeck Scenic Byway are close.

Mapped subdivisions

Outlines on filediffers

Wall
No recorded subdivision outlines drawn for this community yet.
Box Elder
16 mapped outlines, 3 with a full guideReference outlines from county and city GIS, not surveys. The recorded plat controls.
Hill City
No recorded subdivision outlines drawn for this community yet.
Keystone
No recorded subdivision outlines drawn for this community yet.

The trade

Housing and patterndiffers

Wall
A complete small prairie town with its own school, clinic and grocery, at the northern gate to the Badlands.
Box Elder
A young city building its first downtown at Liberty Plaza on 110 acres, with roughly 800 residential units planned.
Hill City
A small mountain main street that triples every summer and empties out by October, with the 1880 Train leaving from downtown.
Keystone
An 1883 mining camp turned tourism town at the gateway to Mount Rushmore, 240 residents and millions of visitors.

What you gaindiffers

Wall
Everything a town needs in one place, 50 miles from the city, at prairie prices.
Box Elder
The Ellsworth main gate is in town, 9 minutes from most addresses, on city water and sewer, with the region's newest housing pipeline.
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.
Keystone
Nightly rental demand runs about as high as anywhere in the Black Hills, if the rules and the covenants check out for the specific property.

What you give updiffers

Wall
Fifty miles to a hospital and to real shopping, and an economy that runs on a three month season.
Box Elder
Comparable sales run thin inside brand new subdivisions and builder incentives move the effective price without moving the list price. I-90 fills at shift change, and the flight line is close enough that you hear it.
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.
Keystone
A seasonal town with no school, no grocery and no clinic, and a housing stock where half the doors are dark in winter.
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

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ComparingWall, Box Elder, Hill City, Keystone

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