$471,995Average Value$364Average Price per Sq Ft1Home For Sale
Locals and tourists enjoy Torch Lake's crystal waters
Just east of Lake Michigan, Rapid City combines rural, small-town living with lakeside recreation. The central town sits about 2 miles inland from the southern shores of Torch Lake, while a row of homes on Crystal Beach Road sit right on the shoreline. In the summer, locals and tourists alike are drawn to the lake and its impressive sandbar. “The water looks blue and quite tropic,” says Realtor Douglas Swartz with Century 21 Northland-Elk Rapids. “You’ll look down at the water at 10, 20 feet, and you’ll see the bottom.” Although the popular lake fills with boats and swimmers, the town itself has a much calmer vibe, featuring a small selection of local restaurants and one grocery store. The community also receives a CAP Index score of 1 out of 10 for overall crime, considerably lower than the national average.
Torch Lake Sandbar, plus hiking at Seven Bridges Natural Area
While much of the Torch Lake shoreline is private property, there are plenty of public access points just off Crystal Beach Road, where locals can wade into the water or launch watercraft. The Torch Lake Sandbar is a popular tourist destination in the region, where adventures can anchor their boats in shallow waters and mingle among other seafarers. Deeper parts of the Sandbar are popular with paddleboarding and water skiing.
Beyond the lake, the area is also home to nature preserves, like the 300-acre Seven Bridges Nature Area. Wildflowers line its wooded walking trails, and wanderers can stop by the river to fish. In Rapid City, Freedom Park offers a walking path and a baseball field.
A mix of houses in Rapid City and along the lakefront
Ranch-style and manufactured homes are common across Rapid City, typically ranging between $90,000 and $350,000 depending on acreage. Along the lakefront and Rapid River, older cottages and farmhouses from the 1970s sit alongside newer custom homes. “There’s still a fair amount of older homes, but it’s not uncommon for them to sell and get bulldozed for something nice and new,” Swartz says. Pines and tall trees sit between properties to offer some privacy, and many homeowners can access the waterways from private docks and beaches. Riverfront homes typically sell for $700,000 to $825,000, while lakefront homes range from $1.6 to $1.9 million.
While vacationers are common in the area, rental properties and summer homes aren’t super common in Rapid City. “The whole short-term rental thing is becoming a hot term in the townships, and they are trying to make it pleasant for the people who live there full time,” Swartz assures. “The bulk of the houses on Torch Lake are not short term.”
Restaurants by the lake and Rapid City's only grocery store
Up by the lake, Johnny’s Torch Riviera is a small red barn where people can order from plenty of pasta and seafood options. Bluewater Bistro and Pizzeria’s blue walls match its name. The garage-style windows open to make a more flexible space between the indoor and patio seating. The menu features plenty of seafood options, like whitefish, walleye and cod. People can enjoy hot dogs and ice cream on the porch at Torch Lake Cones and Coffee. “The nice thing about Rapid City is that they do have Village Market, which is a nice little grocery store with a deli counter,” Swartz says. “You can get your shopping done without having to go to Traverse City.” A Dollar General is also located here. For more options, Northland Food and Family Center is 10 miles away in Kalkaska.
Nearby amenities in Kalkaska and Rapid City
Nearby towns have shopping as well as the area schools. Kalkaska is about 10 miles away, accessible via Rapid City Road. Kalkaska Memorial Health Center is also here, about 11 miles away. Traverse City, the closest big city, is about 23 miles away, featuring the nearest airport, Cherry Capital Airport.
Rapid City students attend Kalkaska schools
Located within the town, Rapid City Elementary School receives a C-plus from Niche. The rest of the schools are in Kalkaska. Kalkaska Middle School receives a C. Kalkaska High School, rated B-minus, hosts a number of fundraisers throughout the year.
Rapid City's summer festivals and concert series
In the summer, Clearwater Township Hall in the center of town hosts many of Rapid City’s events. For five weeks from July to August, Thursday Night Live brings live music, beer and crafts to the community. Every late August, the four-day Rapid City Heritage Festival includes carnival rides, a parade, a car show and a vendor market.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Travis Lorenz,
an experienced agent in this area.
Parks in this Area
Freedom Park
Heritage Park
Ashmun Bay Park
Transit
Airport
Cherry Capital
35 min drive
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Rapid City
US
Homicide
2
4
Sexual Assault
1
4
Assault with Weapon
1
4
Robbery
2
4
Burglary
1
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
1
4
Larceny
1
4
Crime Score
1
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Rapid City, Elk Rapids sell after 100 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Rapid City, Elk Rapids over the last 12 months is $566,635, up 42% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Charming 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath home with frontage on both sides of the Rapid River with direct access to the Torch Lake and Chain of Lakes. The home features a fireplace, updated bathrooms with a private primary suite with loads of space. Enjoy a prime location near a boat launch, perfect for boating and water activities. This property features a 3-car garage and a spacious 48' x 32' pole building
Just over 6 acres in Kalkaska County paradise! A great setting on a county maintained paved road. Electric at the road along with fiber optic internet. There appears to be a couple of build sites, one on either end of the parcel with the land between offering great deer habitat. There is also an easement offering access to the opposite end of the parcel. Sale subject to township split approval.
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Travis Lorenz,
an experienced agent in this area.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
1,470
Median Age
46
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
22.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
24.6%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$53,529
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$65,603
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
93%
College Graduates
20.6%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
3.9%
% Population in Labor Force
50.9%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
31''
Average Winter Low Temperature
14°F
Average Summer High Temperature
81°F
Annual Snowfall
88''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
32/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
16/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
