Population 8,892 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Custer County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Custer County
Household size in Custer County
| Period | Custer County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.16 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.18 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.16 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.95 | 2.48 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.21 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Custer County are small: just 1.95 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 has dropped from 2.16 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other South Dakota county has smaller households.
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 | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.7 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 50.9 | 38.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 55.0 | 38.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 56.7 | 38.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.1 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Custer County skews older: half of its residents are older than 56.7, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 49.7, a much bigger shift than nationally. No other South Dakota county is 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 | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.3% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.7% of households in Custer County, well below the national share of 11.6%. Compared with other South Dakota counties, Custer County has a lower share of single-parent households than most.
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 | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.6% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.7% | 32.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.0% | 32.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.4% | 31.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −7.2 pts | +0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Custer County is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 14.4% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. The renter share is down 7.2 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose. Only one other South Dakota county has 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 | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.1% | 11.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.3% | 10.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 25.1% | 11.6% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.3% | 10.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Custer County: 16.3% 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 is down 2.8 points from 2006–10, as it has 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 | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1986 | 1977 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1993 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +14 | +9 | +6 |
Custer County has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1993, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1978 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the northwest has the oldest housing. Only one other South Dakota county has newer homes.
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 | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $713 | $631 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $799 | $692 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $825 | $798 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,227 | $1,000 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$514 | +$369 | +$606 |
Rent in Custer County runs $1,227 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in South Dakota as a whole ($1,000). Rents are up $514 a month from 2006–10, a 72% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Only one other South Dakota county has higher rents.
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 | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.3% | 26.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.7% | 27.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.8% | 29.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 31.7% | 32.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly a third of adults 25 and older in Custer County (31.7%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. That is in line with the rest of South Dakota. The share with a degree is up 3.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.2% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.9% | 91.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.6% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.2% | 93.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Custer County: 95.2% 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 3.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Custer County has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five South Dakota counties.
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 | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.4% | 4.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 4.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.5% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.1% | 3.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Custer County has been strong: just 2.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. 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 | 1.95 | 56.7 | 5.7% | 14.4% | 16.3% | 1993 | $1,227 | 31.7% | 95.2% | 2.1% |
| Jackson County | 3.48 | 34.8 | 27.1% | 32.7% | 21.1% | 1982 | $480 | 14.0% | 90.3% | 8.1% |
| Jones County | 2.94 | 33.9 | 12.3% | 23.7% | 28.6% | 1973 | $543 | 27.4% | 93.2% | 2.1% |
| Brule County | 2.58 | 41.8 | 10.0% | 23.6% | 15.6% | 1969 | $902 | 29.2% | 90.8% | 1.7% |
| Hot Springs County | 2.20 | 43.1 | 7.8% | 27.3% | 12.5% | 1974 | $1,081 | 26.5% | 95.2% | 3.0% |
| Aurora County | 2.41 | 41.2 | 8.3% | 27.3% | 15.4% | 1962 | $772 | 21.7% | 92.0% | 1.2% |
| Davison County | 2.22 | 41.7 | 10.0% | 38.5% | 9.2% | 1971 | $836 | 22.3% | 91.0% | 0.9% |
| Hanson County | 3.02 | 37.8 | 4.2% | 10.6% | 12.1% | 1959 | $848 | 22.7% | 93.3% | 1.8% |
| McCook County | 2.51 | 39.4 | 6.4% | 20.5% | 11.5% | 1968 | $1,021 | 30.3% | 94.5% | 1.9% |
| Rock County | 2.35 | 41.8 | 6.9% | 23.4% | 5.8% | 1959 | $839 | 26.5% | 93.2% | 2.6% |
| Teton County | 2.94 | 40.0 | 6.3% | 19.2% | 28.5% | 2000 | $1,448 | 49.3% | 92.6% | 1.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Amite County, MS · Avery County, NC · Benzie County, MI · Bertie County, NC · Wetzel County, WV · Wayne County, IL · Bosque County, TX · Andrew County, MO · Bledsoe County, TN · Amelia County, VA
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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.