The Town FilesBoulder Canyon, South Dakota
Community in Lawrence County · population 561 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $597,800
- Household income
- $74,281
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 53.0
Boulder Canyon is a community of 561 people in Lawrence County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $597,800, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of South Dakota towns, better for a vacation home than 92% of South Dakota towns, more walkable than 82% of South Dakota towns.
How Boulder Canyon ranks
Percentile among South Dakota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Dakota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Boulder Canyon is worth $597,800, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 8.0 times the median household income of $74,281, which is more affordable than 0% of South Dakota towns. 68.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Boulder Canyon | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $597,800 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | — | $785 |
| Median household income | $74,281 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 68.0% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1998 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.2% | — |
Who lives in Boulder Canyon
| People | Boulder Canyon | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.0 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.9% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.7% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.1% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 16.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 49.7 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in Boulder Canyon
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 15.1°F. About 21.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.6 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Boulder Canyon since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 23, 1969 about 7.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 10, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 186 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 29, 2018.
Severe weather in Lawrence County since 1996
Lawrence County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
| October 7, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4467: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| November 8, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4155: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| June 28, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4125: Severe Storms, Tornado, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lawrence County
Lawrence County had 13,566 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,201 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Boulder Canyon itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Boulder Canyon
- Whitewood, SD4.8 mi · 879 people · home $243,300
- Sturgis, SD5.3 mi · 7,020 people · home $271,200
- Deadwood, SD5.8 mi · 1,156 people · home $226,500
- Lead, SD8.6 mi · 2,982 people · home $189,400
- Spearfish, SD12.3 mi · 12,193 people · home $346,200
- Piedmont, SD16.6 mi · 971 people · home $324,200
- North Spearfish, SD16.7 mi · 2,366 people · home $356,200
- Wonderland Homes, SD18.5 mi · 718 people · home $264,900
Boulder Canyon questions
Is Boulder Canyon, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Boulder Canyon scores better for retirees than 67% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 42%. 28.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.0).
How much does a house cost in Boulder Canyon?
The median owner-occupied home in Boulder Canyon is valued at $597,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,281, so homes cost about 8.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Boulder Canyon?
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 15.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 21.3 inches of precipitation a year and 47.6 inches of snow.
Does Boulder Canyon get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Boulder Canyon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 23, 1969. The typical South Dakota town has had 13.
- 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)