Signals
Rapid City
Moses Lake
Growth
65 · Top 26%
vs57 · Top 39%
Climate
54 · Bottom 9%
vs64 · Bottom 44%
Physical resilience
43 · Bottom 34%
vs63 · Top 39%
Housing affordability
87 · Bottom 30%
vs87 · Bottom 30%
Access
89 · Top 26%
vs95 · Top 17%
Economic stability
75 · Top 19%
vs48 · Bottom 45%
Measured values
| Metric | Rapid City | Moses Lake | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 152,950 | 101,799 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $75,255 | $73,267 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $42,169 | $33,242 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 20/sq mi | 38/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $307,700 | $299,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,140 | $1,116 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.1% | 66.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.1% | 18.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.2% | 15.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 989 | 403 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.5 | 4.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -30.8% | -26.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 13°F | 24°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 17.4" | 7.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 12 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 21.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.6 | 33.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Rapid City
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire.
Moses Lake
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, cold wave, earthquake.
Your best match
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Rapid City
69
Your Score
66
Area Score
Moses Lake
69
Your Score
—
Area Score
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Full profiles: Rapid City, SD Metro Area · Moses Lake, WA Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology