Box Elder, SD vs Spearfish, SD

Spearfish is moderately more affordable than Box Elder, with a 11.1% lower cost of living index. Box Elder scores 95 compared to 85 for Spearfish, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Box Elder can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Box Elder is $1,354/month compared to $941/month in Spearfish — a 44% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Spearfish has cheaper rent, Box Elder actually has lower median home values ($271,800 vs $309,200).

Median household income in Box Elder is $73,698 compared to $59,731 in Spearfish (+23.4%). While Box Elder is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Box Elder spend roughly 22% of their income on rent, more than the 18.9% in Spearfish.