Population 10,518 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Custer County
Household size in Custer County
| Period | Custer County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.33 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.24 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.20 | 2.51 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.33 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Custer County is a place of small households, averaging 2.33 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Households are largest in the northwest and smallest in the northeast.
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 | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.0 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.2 | 37.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.6 | 38.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.9 | 38.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.1 | +0.9 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Custer County is 43.9 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. The youngest areas are in the southeast, the oldest in the northeast.
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 | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.1% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.4% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.4% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | +0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Custer County (10.4%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The picture is much the same across Nebraska. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 5.3 points, even as the national share fell.
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 | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.9% | 31.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.7% | 33.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.4% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 31.1% | 33.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +8.1 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Custer County own their homes; 31.1% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Nearly six in ten owners (56.1%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the north. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 8.1 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.4% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.3% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.6% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.8% | 7.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Custer County: 15.8% of homes are empty, 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 has fallen 1.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1947 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1948 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1951 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1957 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +6 | +6 |
Custer County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1957, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1947 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the northeast has the oldest housing.
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 | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $411 | $730 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $564 | $805 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $670 | $911 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $866 | $1,159 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$455 | +$429 | +$606 |
The median renter in Custer County pays $866 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $455 a month from 2006–10, a 111% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 22.8% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the southeast and lowest in the northeast.
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 | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.4% | 29.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.5% | 30.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.6% | 32.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.9% | 34.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.5 pts | +5.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Custer County: 24.9% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.5 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the northeast.
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 | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.9% | 90.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.2% | 90.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.1% | 91.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.1% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +1.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Custer County: 95.1% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 4.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.1% | 5.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.1% | 5.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.7% | 3.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.4% | 3.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Custer County has been strong: just 2.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 0.8 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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 | 2.33 | 43.9 | 10.4% | 31.1% | 15.8% | 1957 | $866 | 24.9% | 95.1% | 2.4% |
| Valley County | 2.23 | 45.8 | 9.8% | 26.2% | 13.5% | 1960 | $652 | 26.0% | 95.3% | 0.2% |
| Logan County | 2.59 | 45.5 | 1.3% | 21.1% | 9.4% | 1956 | $761 | 24.1% | 97.8% | 0.2% |
| Greeley County | 2.27 | 42.3 | 4.8% | 18.3% | 21.1% | 1947 | $649 | 21.3% | 93.2% | 3.5% |
| McPherson County | 2.24 | 45.8 | 0.9% | 34.9% | 20.9% | 1955 | $588 | 25.7% | 95.0% | 0.0% |
| Nance County | 2.39 | 43.6 | 7.9% | 27.1% | 16.3% | 1949 | $851 | 20.4% | 92.8% | 3.6% |
| Arthur County | 2.62 | 46.0 | 6.5% | 19.5% | 20.3% | 1974 | $750 | 36.6% | 98.8% | 0.4% |
| Platte County | 2.58 | 37.7 | 12.1% | 28.4% | 5.4% | 1971 | $1,017 | 23.7% | 90.6% | 1.9% |
| Colfax County | 3.44 | 34.5 | 24.9% | 23.7% | 4.6% | 1968 | $989 | 14.6% | 67.9% | 2.5% |
| Garden County | 2.02 | 48.9 | 8.3% | 21.3% | 26.4% | 1954 | $740 | 21.1% | 94.7% | 5.6% |
| Dodge County | 2.43 | 38.9 | 11.1% | 33.1% | 9.6% | 1964 | $1,066 | 22.0% | 88.1% | 3.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Bayfield County, WI · Appomattox County, VA · Wright County, MO · Woodward County, OK · Arroyo Municipio, PR · Ashley County, AR · Atchison County, KS · Winston County, MS · Attala County, MS · Winkler County, TX
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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