Rapid City has been named one of Livability’s Top 100 Best Places to Live in 2024.  

This is the 11th year Livability has produced a Top 100 list. It is based on nearly 100 data points and an algorithm that considers measures of a city’s economy, housing and cost of living, amenities, transportation, environment, safety, education and health. The 2024 list represents the top 5% of 2,000+ U.S. cities with populations between 75,000 and 500,000.

Rapid City’s economy, lively cultural scene, vibrant downtown, and deep connection to Native American culture were highlighted as factors for making the list. With an overall LivScore of 699, Rapid City saw its highest categories in housing & cost of living, environment, and transportation. 

“As one of the fastest-growing cities in the country for the last three years, we know Rapid City is a place people want to be,” said Tom Johnson, president and CEO of Elevate Rapid City. “We didn’t get here overnight. It has been years of leadership and hard work with the community and public officials fostering this kind of environment. As a result of these partnerships, Rapid City has a vibrant downtown boasting pet-friendly patios, coffee shops, and breweries coupled with well-established industries like health care and technology. We are excited to see Rapid City get the recognition our hardworking people deserve.”