2026 Compare Cities Economy:
Rapid City, SD vs Gulf Shores, AL

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Highlights
- Household income in Gulf Shores, is 9% less than it is in Rapid City and is 30% below the National Average.
- Rapid City unemployment rate is 3.1%.
- Gulf Shores unemployment rate is 2.9%.
 Rapid City, SDGulf Shores, ALUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock2.9%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock3.3%1.6%
 Future Job Growth35.5%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes6.5%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock5.0%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$34,916  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$53,048$69,021
 Family Median Income$78,276  Unlock$85,028
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 Est. Households By Income
 Rapid City, SDGulf Shores, ALUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock8.9%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K4.5%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock11.8%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K9.8%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock9.9%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K8.6%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock7.1%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K12.6%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock11.8%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K4.8%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock5.4%9.5%
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 Population By Occupation
 Rapid City, SDGulf Shores, ALUnited States
 Management, business, finance12.9%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock1.8%6.5%
 Community, social services1.7%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock1.8%1.2%
 Education, library5.5%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock3.7%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology9.3%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock1.2%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement2.2%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock9.5%5.4%
 Building maintenance5.0%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock3.8%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support23.7%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock0.0%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair9.3%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock3.2%13.1%
Reviews for Rapid City    31 Reviews

I have lived in this city for the last three and half years and I can't stand it!! Let me spell it out for you, but to be fair, let me give you the Pros first:  More

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Unless you made your pension out of state or already bought a home you can't afford to liver there. Rapid City is gray in winter.  More

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Over 5 years ago

I've lived in the city 5 years a loved  More

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Reviews for Gulf Shores    6 Reviews

Over 5 years ago

Owned a place there for 20 years and spend a few weeks each season there. Heading back in a few weeks! Lows: Spotty internet for work. Saturday traffic. Hurricanes.  More

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I know that there are a few people out there that would just as soon throw rotten tomatoes at me for saying what I’m about to say, but I hate, hate, HATE living in Gulf  More

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Over 15 years ago

Gulf Shores offers many sunny days, compared to the rest of Baldwin County.  More

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