The Town FilesRapid City, Michigan
Community in Kalkaska County · population 1,357 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $214,700
- Household income
- $73,021
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 124 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 50.1
Rapid City is a community of 1,357 people in Kalkaska County, Michigan. The median home is worth $214,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of Michigan towns, quieter than 87% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 77% of Michigan towns.
How Rapid City ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Rapid City is worth $214,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $73,021, which is more affordable than 48% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $969 a month. 84.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rapid City | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $214,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $969 | $955 |
| Median household income | $73,021 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 84.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 32.7% | — |
Who lives in Rapid City
| People | Rapid City | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.1 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.7% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 11.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 35.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in Rapid City
July highs average 78.8°F and January lows 10.6°F. About 33.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 123.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 179 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rapid City since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 18, 2007 about 9.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 1 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 22, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on October 15, 1989.
Severe weather in Kalkaska County since 1996
Kalkaska County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4880: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Kalkaska County
Kalkaska County had 4,860 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,400 a year. Unemployment was 5.6% in 2023; in Rapid City itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in Rapid City
1 public school with 85 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City Elementary School | PK-5 | 85 | 14.2 |
Towns near Rapid City
- Clearwater, MI2.1 mi · 2,497 people · home $218,000
- Helena, MI4.2 mi · 937 people · home $382,000
- Milton, MI5.8 mi · 2,355 people · home $528,000
- Elk Rapids, MI6.6 mi · 2,521 people · home $401,100
- Rapid River, MI6.8 mi · 1,245 people · home $185,300
- Elk Rapids, MI7.0 mi · 1,529 people · home $393,400
- Whitewater, MI7.3 mi · 2,688 people · home $373,000
- Custer, MI7.5 mi · 1,150 people · home $237,200
Rapid City questions
Is Rapid City, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rapid City scores better for retirees than 77% of Michigan towns and quieter than 87%. 25.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.1).
How much does a house cost in Rapid City?
The median owner-occupied home in Rapid City is valued at $214,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,021, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $969 a month.
What is the weather like in Rapid City?
July highs average 78.8°F and January lows 10.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.7 inches of precipitation a year and 123.9 inches of snow.
Does Rapid City get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rapid City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on October 18, 2007. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)