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COUNTY

Custer County

South Dakota · 9,431 residents (2025 est.) · 1,556.943 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#27Oldest by median ageof 3,14457.6#99Highest homeownership rateof 3,14485.6%#114Fastest growingof 3,135+13.4%
The short version

Custer County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $84,112. Population has grown 22% since 2000. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $372,100. With a median age of 57.6, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It ranks in the top 5% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 57.6
US median: 38.9
Average education
32% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 149%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
8,892
+22%since 2000
from 7,275 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
6 / sq mi
+13%since 2009
from 5 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
57.6
+33%since 2000
from 43.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:9,431 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
6K7K8K8K9K1990201020202024Custer County
20249K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 53.6%(324)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 93.7%(325)
US avg: 6%
10 to 143.6%(322)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 193.1%(275)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.6%(323)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 347.3%(651)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.8%(962)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.6%(1,031)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6418.9%(1,682)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7422%(1,958)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 849.7%(863)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2%(176)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$84,112
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,303 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$52,898
+195%since 2000
from $17,945 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
56.1%
+32.9 ptssince 2009
from 23.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2000
from 9.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.471
+21%since 2010
from 0.389 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing12.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction9.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade7.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Information6.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance6%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Retail trade3.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Manufacturing2.9%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration0.9%
US avg: 4.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$372,100
+149%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $81,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,112
+75%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $349 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
85.6%
+8.5 ptssince 2000
from 77.0% in 2000
14.4% rent
Vacancy rate
15.9%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 17.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
33.3%
+10.1 ptssince 2009
from 23.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
19.5%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 25.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.4
+30%since 2009
from 3.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
69
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Custer County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.4%(6,794)
Black0.2%(17)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(110)
Asian0.2%(13)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic87.7%(7,801)
Black0.3%(29)
Hispanic / Latino3.1%(274)
Asian0.4%(39)
Other8.4%(749)
Diversity Score
28
+52%since 2009
from 18 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
9
−16%since 2020
from 10 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.1%(188)
Spaniard0.2%(20)
Argentine0.2%(16)
Puerto Rican0.1%(12)
Salvadoran0.1%(5)
Asian origin
Filipino0.2%(20)
Korean0.1%(10)
Chinese0.1%(5)
Ancestry
German31.7%(2,821)
Irish16.8%(1,498)
English10.1%(900)
Norwegian6.6%(591)
American5.3%(470)
Scottish3.6%(320)
Swedish3.2%(283)
Italian3.1%(276)
Czech2.6%(232)
French2.5%(223)
Russian2%(179)
Danish2%(177)
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data
Polish1.5%(132)
Ukrainian1.4%(121)
Swiss1.3%(116)
Finnish1.2%(111)
Dutch1%(91)
Welsh0.6%(52)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(49)
British0.5%(46)
Hungarian0.5%(43)
Canadian0.4%(33)
Slovak0.3%(27)
Lithuanian0.3%(25)
Portuguese0.3%(25)
Romanian0.3%(24)
Austrian0.3%(23)
Arab0.1%(11)
Egyptian0.1%(11)
Jamaican0.1%(9)
Belgian0%(1)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
31.6%
+7.2 ptssince 2000
from 24.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.7%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 88.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
12.6%
+5.6 ptssince 2000
from 7.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.5 min
+75%since 2000
from 16.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 74.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.2%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.0%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
0.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2011
from 2.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.2%
−3.5 ptssince 2011
from 58.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.4%
−11.0 ptssince 2009
from 21.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
39.3%
−27.6 ptssince 2009
from 66.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.2%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 53.5% in 2009
Female
50.8%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 46.5% in 2009
Foreign born
2.7%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
13.0%
−39.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
18.9%
+5.7 ptssince 2012
from 13.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.8%
−79.9 ptssince 2013
from 90.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.8%
+13.6 ptssince 2017
from 74.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.4%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 95.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2016
from 2.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married14%(549)
Married70.6%(2,768)
Widowed5.6%(219)
Divorced9.7%(382)
Women 15+
Never married11.2%(449)
Married70.9%(2,838)
Widowed10.6%(425)
Divorced7.3%(291)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Custer County to nearby counties

CUSTER COUNTY VS
Fall River County
Income$67,917−19%
Home value$193,200−48%
Population7,467−21%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CUSTER COUNTY VS
Pennington County
Income$74,517−11%
Home value$302,200−19%
Population116,792+1138%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CUSTER COUNTY VS
Lawrence County
Income$73,384−13%
Home value$346,500−7%
Population29,459+212%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CUSTER COUNTY VS
Oglala Lakota County
Income$41,417−51%
Home value$52,900−86%
Population13,338+41%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Custer County, South Dakota?

Custer County, South Dakota has about 8,892 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Custer County, South Dakota?

The typical household in Custer County, South Dakota earns about $84,112 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Custer County, South Dakota expensive?

In Custer County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $372,100, and the typical rent is about $1,112 a month.

How educated are people in Custer County, South Dakota?

About 31.6% of adults age 25 and over in Custer County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Custer County, South Dakota?

About 9.0% of people in Custer County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Custer County, South Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Custer County, South Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,713 residents, a change of about 44 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

2 census tracts
Census Tract 9651Census Tract 9652
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 57730ZIP 57744ZIP 57738ZIP 57773
Up the hierarchy
All counties in South Dakota
Rankings
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →