What it's like to live in Box Elder
Box Elder is a small city in South Dakota with county unemployment below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, a population that has grown fast since 2020, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Box Elder deals with cold, harsh winters, snowy winters, fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Short commutes
- Fast-growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 49" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Box Elder compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Box Elder
Based on Box Elder's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,982
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $59,640 a year
- 41% of Box Elder renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$60,420
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $30,210
- Homes cost 4.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,491/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,491 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $302,100. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $302,100 · 41% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
2.0% county unemployment
Unemployment in Pennington County is 2.0%, well below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Pennington County (county-wide)
SafetyNear US average
312 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 1379/100k · Box Elder Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 23% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.1 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 7% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 83°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 14°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 22% below US
28% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 28%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Mount Rushmore National Memorial (24 miles away). There are 6 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Box Elder's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are cold, harsh winters and snowy winters. A year of median rent ($1,491/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low) and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
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