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COUNTY · 2010 ACS

Custer County

South Dakota · 8,216 residents · 1,556.943 sq mi
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The short version

Custer County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $46,743. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $160,700. With a median age of 50.3, the population is older than the US median of 37.2.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 50.3
US median: 37.2
Average education
29% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 55%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
8,216
+13%since 2000
from 7,275 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
5 / sq mi
+13%since 2000
from 5 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
50.3
+16%since 2000
from 43.2 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
6K7K8K8K9K1990201020202024Custer County
20249K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$46,743
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,303 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,353
+36%since 2000
from $17,945 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
24.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 23.2% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
9.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 9.4% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.389
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Agriculture, forestry, fishing15.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction12.9%
US avg: 1.4%
Wholesale trade8.3%
US avg: 7.2%
Finance & insurance6.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services6.1%
US avg: 7%
Professional, scientific, technical5.3%
US avg: 4.2%
Information4.6%
US avg: 11.5%
Retail trade4%
US avg: 10.9%
Public administration3.5%
US avg: 4.9%
Manufacturing2.2%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 2.4%
Transportation & warehousing0.6%
US avg: 3.1%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$160,700
+55%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $81,900 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$477
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $349 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
42.7%
−34.3 ptssince 2000
from 77.0% in 2000
22.0% rent
Vacancy rate
18.7%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 17.6% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
25.0%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 23.2% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
21.1%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 25.4% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
3.4
+52%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
Diversity Score5%(361)
2010
White, non-Hispanic92.8%(7,624)
Black0.2%(15)
Hispanic / Latino2.2%(182)
Asian0.3%(27)
Other5.2%(424)
Diversity Score18.4%(1,513)
Diversity Score
18
+271%since 2000
from 5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.6%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 24.4% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
92.0%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 88.9% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
9.1%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 7.0% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.1 min
+49%since 2000
from 16.9 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
76.8%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 74.1% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
9.8%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
8.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
3.9%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
2.1%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
18.0%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 21.4% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
43.9%
−23.0 ptssince 2009
from 66.9% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.9%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 53.5% in 2009
Female
47.1%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 46.5% in 2009
Foreign born
0.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
21.4%
−31.0 ptssince 2009
from 52.3% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Custer County

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Pop 9,830
Boise County
Pop 8,545
Jasper County
Pop 9,032
Menard County
Pop 11,863
Places similar to Custer County
Head to head

Compare Custer County to nearby counties

CUSTER COUNTY VS
Fall River County
Income$67,917+45%
Home value$193,200+20%
Population7,467−21%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CUSTER COUNTY VS
Pennington County
Income$74,517+59%
Home value$302,200+88%
Population116,792+1138%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CUSTER COUNTY VS
Lawrence County
Income$73,384+57%
Home value$346,500+116%
Population29,459+212%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CUSTER COUNTY VS
Oglala Lakota County
Income$41,417−11%
Home value$52,900−67%
Population13,338+41%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Custer County, South Dakota?

Custer County, South Dakota has about 8,216 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Custer County, South Dakota earns about $46,743 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 $160,700, and the typical rent is about $477 a month.

How educated are people in Custer County, South Dakota?

About 28.6% 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 9.7% 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 2,037 residents, a change of about 33 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
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →