At $1,450/mo, rent takes about 24% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,450 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($73,008) is $1,825 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,550); a 4-bedroom is $1,860.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Box Elder. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Box Elder, SD is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, 28% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Box Elder, SD has changed in 5 years
Household income in the area moved from $62,972 to $73,008 across the same window, up 15.9% versus 2021. The population has grown by 11.9% since 2021, moving from about 11,527 residents to roughly 12,902. Renters now make up 51.8% of households, compared with 47.5% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 28% of adults here, versus 33.1% in 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Box Elder on your salary?
At $1,450/mo, how Box Elder rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Box Elder rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Box Elder. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Box Elder
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Box Elder is $1,450/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $790/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,160/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $880/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,550/mo.
At 24% of local median household income ($73,008/yr), Box Elder ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Box Elder?
Is rent going up or down in Box Elder?
How does Box Elder rent compare to other cities in South Dakota?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Box Elder?
At $1,450/mo, rent takes ~24% of Box Elder's median household income ($73,008/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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