City profile · South Dakota · Census ACS 2023

Custer, SD

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Custer - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

2,148
Residents
$80,188
Median income
$229,500
Median home
$1,173
Median rent (state)

Custer - the verdict

Custer ranks in the 62nd percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

62nd
percentile, household income
51st
percentile, home value
34th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Custer, SD

Custer is a small town in South Dakota, home to 2,148 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Custer brings in $80,188 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.5%. Custer's housing stock carries a median value of $229,500, and the median resident age is 54.9 years. Educational attainment runs 30.1% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 51.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 14 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 600% from five years earlier. NOAA puts Custer's yearly average temperature at 44.9°F with 20.7 inches of precipitation per year and 57.9 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in South Dakota run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, South Dakota scores 88.6 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,173 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $200 across South Dakota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Workers in Custer report an average commute of 18.9 minutes, with 79.4% driving alone and 7.8% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 16.3 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

2,148 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Dakota

Median Household Income

$80,188 /yr

Poverty 4.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.6 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Dakota average

How does Custer compare to other US cities?

Where Custer sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 62% higher than other cities
Home value 51% pricier than other cities
Median rent 34% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Custer against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to South Dakota only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

South Dakota-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent is Custer's strongest outlier among South Dakota cities

Among the 303 South Dakota cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Custer ranks #11 - the 94th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Custer only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#60 of 285
79th percentile in South Dakota
Median Gross Rent
#11 of 303
94th percentile in South Dakota
Median Home Value
#40 of 263
85th percentile in South Dakota
Poverty Rate
#178 of 302
40th percentile in South Dakota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#53 of 303
82nd percentile in South Dakota

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within South Dakota only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

62ndIncome percentile

62nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Custer's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$229,500 49th percentile more affordable than 49% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Custer $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Custer, SD Custer, SD's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Custer, SD-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Custer, SD median $80,188/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Custer, SD's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Custer, SD. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 30.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,148
Median Income
$80,188
Median Home Value
$229,500
Median Age
54.9
Poverty Rate
4.5%
Labor force participation
51.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
30.1%

Climate

Avg Temperature
44.9°F
Annual Precipitation
20.7"
Annual Snowfall
57.9"

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,750 residents1,800 residents1,850 residents1,900 residents1,950 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,934 residents 1,803 residents ▼ -6.8%
Custer's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
14
housing units authorized
Single-Family
10
detached homes
Multifamily
4
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
6.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 1
2021 6
2022 10
2023 6
2024 14

Permit volume increased 600% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
18.9 minutes
Drive Alone
79.4%
Carpool
6.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
4.5%
Work from Home
7.8%
Other
1.4%

Based on 970 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for South Dakota - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$65
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$200
estimated/month

Estimates reflect South Dakota state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a South Dakota state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Custer sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.6
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,173/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
16.3 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Dakota

North Spearfish
2,201 people
Springfield
2,073 people
Redfield
2,230 people
Volga
2,246 people
Flandreau
2,291 people
Parkston
1,981 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Custer's 2,148 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Falmouth Foreside, ME
2,148 people
Washington Mills, NY
2,148 people
Governors, NC
2,148 people
Navassa, NC
2,148 people
New Eagle, PA
2,148 people
Oak Hill, FL
2,147 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Custer's $80,188 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Village of Oak Creek (Big Park), AZ
$80,197 median income
Point Roberts, WA
$80,197 median income
Sidney, IA
$80,200 median income
Cold Spring, KY
$80,172 median income
Pine Creek, MT
$80,208 median income
Hampton, NE
$80,208 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Custer, SD Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Custer, SD - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.0% 6.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.9% White 89.0% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 1.0% American Indian 2.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.8% Two or more races 6.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Custer compares to nearby South Dakota cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Custer (this city) 2,148 $80,188
North Spearfish 2,201 $69,792
Springfield 2,073 $59,063
Redfield 2,230 $60,586
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SD NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Custer, SD?

What is the population of Custer, SD? +

Custer, SD has a population of 2,148 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Custer, SD? +

Custer households earn a median of $80,188 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Custer? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Custer; the closest available measure is the South Dakota state average, a cost of living index of 88.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within South Dakota vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Custer, SD? +

Homes in Custer carry a median value of $229,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Custer? +

Custer has an average annual temperature of 44.9°F, 20.7 inches of precipitation, and 57.9 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.