Population 5,247 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Custer County
Household size in Custer County
| Period | Custer County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.09 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.98 | 2.63 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.16 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.08 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Households in Custer County are small: just 2.08 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Custer County
| Period | Custer County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 54.0 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 55.9 | 37.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 57.7 | 38.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 53.4 | 39.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.6 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Custer County skews older: half of its residents are older than 53.4, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has edged down from 54.0 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Of Colorado's 64 counties, only two are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Custer County
| Period | Custer County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.6% | 9.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 9.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.3 pts | −1.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Custer County: 5.1% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 4.3 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of Colorado's 64 counties, only five have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Custer County
Renters in Custer County
| Period | Custer County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.5% | 32.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.3% | 35.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.8% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.7% | 33.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 14.7% of households in Custer County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 58.2% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 4.8 points, even as the national share rose. Of Colorado's 64 counties, only three have a lower share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Custer County
| Period | Custer County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.4% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 52.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 48.5% | 8.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 43.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −5.7 pts | −3.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 43.7% of the housing in Custer County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is down 5.7 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Custer County
| Period | Custer County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1992 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1990 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1994 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +12 | +7 | +6 |
Custer County has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1994, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1983 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Custer County has newer homes than at least four in five Colorado counties.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Custer County
| Period | Custer County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $720 | $1,051 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $686 | $1,165 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $632 | $1,450 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,025 | $1,963 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$305 | +$912 | +$606 |
Rent in Custer County runs $1,025 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $305 a month since 2006–10, up 42%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 33.0% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Custer County
Bachelor's degrees in Custer County
| Period | Custer County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.9% | 36.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 36.1% | 37.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.4% | 40.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 43.3% | 45.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.4 pts | +9.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than four in ten adults 25 and older in Custer County (43.3%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national share of 35.6%. The picture is much the same across Colorado. The share with a degree is up 12.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Custer County
| Period | Custer County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.8% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.8% | 90.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.8% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.9% | 92.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Custer County is above the national rate: 93.9% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Colorado as a whole looks much the same.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Custer County
| Period | Custer County | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.5% | 6.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.4% | 7.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 4.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.3% | 4.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.2 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Custer County has been low: just 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 7.2 points, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Custer County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custer County | 2.08 | 53.4 | 5.1% | 14.7% | 43.7% | 1994 | $1,025 | 43.3% | 93.9% | 3.3% |
| Pueblo County | 2.47 | 41.1 | 13.0% | 31.1% | 7.6% | 1975 | $1,167 | 25.6% | 90.9% | 4.7% |
| Crowley County | 3.58 | 39.1 | 9.2% | 30.5% | 13.5% | 1955 | $1,041 | 10.1% | 78.6% | 4.5% |
| Otero County | 2.47 | 41.0 | 12.9% | 31.1% | 14.6% | 1959 | $862 | 20.0% | 88.8% | 6.8% |
| Hinsdale County | 1.96 | 48.5 | 16.4% | 23.9% | 62.0% | 1984 | $1,171 | 47.7% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Bent County | 2.28 | 42.7 | 14.6% | 34.8% | 12.8% | 1963 | $1,203 | 16.0% | 83.6% | 6.0% |
| Ouray County | 2.00 | 54.0 | 4.4% | 17.5% | 21.8% | 1994 | $2,011 | 57.7% | 97.7% | 2.6% |
| Prowers County | 2.51 | 37.4 | 11.5% | 32.9% | 14.5% | 1968 | $865 | 19.2% | 86.8% | 5.0% |
| Hodgeman County | 2.38 | 49.0 | 7.5% | 20.9% | 15.5% | 1957 | $937 | 30.2% | 95.5% | 0.6% |
| Pawnee County | 2.24 | 46.9 | 10.5% | 33.8% | 28.7% | 1954 | $854 | 20.5% | 89.3% | 1.1% |
| Stafford County | 2.44 | 41.5 | 9.9% | 17.7% | 24.0% | 1951 | $671 | 26.5% | 92.7% | 2.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Banner County, NE · Atchison County, MO · Worth County, MO · Atoka County, OK · Audubon County, IA · Aurora County, SD · Baca County, CO · Bacon County, GA · Bailey County, TX · Woodson County, KS
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Custer County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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