Population 3,557 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Custer
Household size in Custer
| Period | Custer | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.01 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.04 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.20 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.93 | 2.48 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.08 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Custer is a place of small households, averaging 1.93 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children.
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
| Period | Custer | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.7 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 53.1 | 38.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 52.7 | 38.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 57.3 | 38.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.6 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Custer skews older: half of its residents are older than 57.3, 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, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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
| Period | Custer | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.0% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.2% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.7% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.4% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Custer: 8.4% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
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
Renters in Custer
| Period | Custer | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.4% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.3% | 32.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.6% | 32.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.0% | 31.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | +0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Custer own their homes; 25.0% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. About half of owners (48.5%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%.
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
| Period | Custer | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 11.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.5% | 10.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 24.1% | 11.6% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.6% | 10.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +5.1 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Custer: 16.6% 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.
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
| Period | Custer | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1977 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +13 | +9 | +6 |
Homes in Custer are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1985, versus 1980 across the U.S. The picture is much the same across South Dakota.
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
| Period | Custer | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $521 | $631 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $704 | $692 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $840 | $798 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,228 | $1,000 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$706 | +$369 | +$606 |
The median renter in Custer pays $1,228 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in South Dakota as a whole ($1,000). The typical renter here spends 20.1% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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
Bachelor's degrees in Custer
| Period | Custer | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.4% | 26.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.6% | 27.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.3% | 29.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 30.3% | 32.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
About three in ten adults 25 and older in Custer (30.3%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. South Dakota as a whole looks much the same.
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
| Period | Custer | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.7% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.5% | 91.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.2% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.9% | 93.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Custer: 94.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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
| Period | Custer | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.3% | 4.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.6% | 4.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.3% | 3.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.0 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Custer has been strong: just 2.3% 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 compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custer | 1.93 | 57.3 | 8.4% | 25.0% | 16.6% | 1985 | $1,228 | 30.3% | 94.9% | 2.3% |
| Sanator | 2.05 | 55.9 | 6.0% | 11.0% | 19.0% | 1989 | $1,108 | 30.0% | 92.5% | 3.5% |
| Pringle | 2.06 | 62.0 | 4.3% | 5.4% | 19.5% | 1998 | $1,190 | 27.8% | 89.4% | 4.2% |
| Hill City | 2.53 | 44.4 | 8.1% | 16.2% | 36.3% | 1992 | $1,217 | 42.4% | 98.7% | 0.0% |
| Keystone | 2.45 | 51.4 | 6.8% | 17.1% | 23.3% | 1990 | $1,022 | 41.2% | 97.1% | 2.0% |
| Fairburn | 1.89 | 55.3 | 3.5% | 6.3% | 12.9% | 2000 | $1,299 | 34.4% | 98.2% | 0.4% |
| Hermosa | 2.12 | 52.8 | 4.0% | 7.9% | 11.4% | 2001 | $1,301 | 33.6% | 96.5% | 1.0% |
| Minnekahta | 1.97 | 61.1 | 5.0% | 12.9% | 17.6% | 1990 | $1,025 | 30.1% | 88.3% | 5.4% |
| Silver City | 2.59 | 48.1 | 4.0% | 9.9% | 46.1% | 1975 | $1,131 | 51.6% | 92.2% | 0.0% |
| Mystic | 2.63 | 46.6 | 4.0% | 11.1% | 49.2% | 1975 | $1,131 | 53.6% | 91.2% | 0.0% |
| Buffalo Gap | 1.89 | 53.4 | 8.8% | 25.6% | 9.4% | 1970 | $1,030 | 30.6% | 94.9% | 0.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Ethridge, TN · Manchester, OH · Fort Recovery, OH · Dassel, MN · Scotland Neck, NC · Center Barnstead, NH · Bethel Acres, OK · Bainbridge, OH · Section, AL · Robert, LA
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. 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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