Custer County is home to 11,961 people in Montana. That puts it in the top 10% of US counties for household income. There are 3 people per square mile. The average commute runs 13 minutes. The foreign-born share is 1%. The median age is 42.7, about 4 years above the US median.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $70,605, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 92%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Custer County
What changed most since 1990
Median home value (2024 dollars)$87,843 → $219,100(+149%)US over the same years: +67%
White share97.0% → 89.0%(−8.0 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)25.1%(217)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)32.8%(283)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era33.8%(292)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.4%(38)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 864 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Custer County, decade by decade
Custer County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
11,697
$51,237
$87,843
16.0%
7.3
2000
11,696
$54,650
$114,400
18.8%
9.7
2010
11,699
$55,979
$124,724
19.2%
14.1
2020
11,867
$66,530
$211,501
27.7%
23.1
2024
11,961
$70,605
$219,100
27.0%
25.2
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
