Box Elder 64 Average
Box Elder Livability #171 ranked city in South Dakota#14,411 ranked city in the USARanks better than 50% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Box Elder

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.

  • Housing Housing

    This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Commute Commute

    Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Poor air quality and the inaccessibility of certain health related facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors and pharmacies could have all contributed to the low score in this category.

What's it like Living in Box Elder?

Box Elder is a moderately-sized city located in the state of South Dakota. The city has a population of 10,205 residents. According to the most recent Census, 80% of Box Elder residents are White, 7% American Indian and Alaskan and 3% Black. With an average age of 28 years old, Box Elder could be a great place to live for young adults as this age is well below the national average. If you're not a fan of traffic congestion and long commute times to work, Box Elder is the place to be. Commutes to work here are shorter, with an average one-way commute time taking only 18 minutes, significantly lower than the national average of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re moving to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Box Elder could be a positive experience compared to other cities in South Dakota if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Finding the best places to live in Box Elder and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes crime, cost of living, health & safety, education, employment and other important metrics.

With a livability score of 63 out of 100, Box Elder is ranked #14,033 in the United States and #181 in South Dakota. There are nine total categories that form the livability score. Box Elder scores well for cost of living (A+) and housing (A+) On a more negative note, Box Elder does not have favorable scores for the following: amenities (F). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.

Real estate represents the most substantial investment for homebuyers, constituting their most valuable asset. Renters, on the other hand, typically see their monthly rent as their most significant expense. The Box Elder market earns a high score in the housing category, surpassing the national average in factors like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates. This robust real estate market not only benefits individual homeowners and renters but also spurs vigorous local economic activity and job growth, solidifying its significance in driving the region's prosperity and financial well-being.

There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Box Elder is actually affordable. The median home price for Box Elder homes is $327,522, which is 25.7% higher than the South Dakota average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Box Elder, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.8, which is 15.2% higher than the South Dakota average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Box Elder

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Compare Box Elder, SD Livability

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      Box Elder transportation information

      Statistic Box Elder South Dakota National
      Average one way commute18min17min26min
      Workers who drive to work82.3%79.6%76.4%
      Workers who carpool13.0%9.1%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%0.5%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.5%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.1%3.8%2.8%
      Working from home2.6%5.5%4.6%
      Source: The Box Elder, SD data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.