CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Custer County

South Dakota · 8,318 residents · 1,556.943 sq mi
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The short version

Custer County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $64,556. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $232,000. With a median age of 56.4, the population is older than the US median of 38.8.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 56.4
US median: 38.8
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 88%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
8,318
+14%since 2000
from 7,275 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
5 / sq mi
+14%since 2000
from 5 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
56.4
+31%since 2000
from 43.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
6K7K8K8K9K1990201020202024Custer County
20249K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$64,556
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,303 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,677
+99%since 2000
from $17,945 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
41.3%
+18.1 ptssince 2009
from 23.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
12.7%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 9.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Wholesale trade10.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing9.1%
US avg: 1.7%
Information8.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance6.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Construction6.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical5%
US avg: 4.7%
Retail trade4.9%
US avg: 10%
Other services4.8%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration4.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Manufacturing2.6%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services1.8%
US avg: 0.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food0.2%
US avg: 2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$232,000
+88%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $81,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$974
+86%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $349 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
81.3%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 77.0% in 2000
18.7% rent
Afford Score
3.6
+59%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)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic90.2%(7,506)
Black0.4%(32)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(211)
Asian0.3%(25)
Other5.9%(490)
Diversity Score21.4%(1,776)
Segregation Score10.4%(863)
Diversity Score
21
+330%since 2000
from 5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
10
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
23.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2000
from 24.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
93.7%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 88.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
7.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 7.0% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.5 min
+69%since 2000
from 16.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
75.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 74.1% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
2.0%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.4%
+2.8 ptssince 2011
from 2.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
53.5%
−5.2 ptssince 2011
from 58.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
35.8%
−31.1 ptssince 2009
from 66.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.4%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 53.5% in 2009
Female
49.6%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 46.5% in 2009
Foreign born
1.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
7.3%
−83.4 ptssince 2013
from 90.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Custer County

Nome Census Area
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+5%
Home value$193,200−17%
Population7,467−21%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CUSTER COUNTY VS
Pennington County
Income$74,517+15%
Home value$302,200+30%
Population116,792+1138%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CUSTER COUNTY VS
Lawrence County
Income$73,384+14%
Home value$346,500+49%
Population29,459+212%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CUSTER COUNTY VS
Oglala Lakota County
Income$41,417−36%
Home value$52,900−77%
Population13,338+41%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Custer County, South Dakota?

Custer County, South Dakota has about 8,318 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Custer County, South Dakota earns about $64,556 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 $232,000, and the typical rent is about $974 a month.

How educated are people in Custer County, South Dakota?

About 23.2% 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 12.7% 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 2,139 residents, a change of about 35 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
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →