County · Idaho
Custer County, Idaho
Custer County, Idaho. Custer County had 4,636 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 8.4% since 2020, slower than Idaho (+10.4%). It holds 5 places (5 cities, villages and boroughs) and 1 census tract. GEOID 16037.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
4,636
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 4,275 · ACS 2020-2024: 4,470
Median household income
$67,574
±$16,035 (90% margin)
Idaho: $77,800
Median home value
$381,700
±$70,646 (90% margin)
Idaho: $418,600
Median gross rent
$691
±$138 (90% margin)
Idaho: $1,238
How many people live in Custer County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 4,275 residents in Custer County. The Census Bureau estimates 4,636 for July 1, 2025, up 8.4% since 2020, slower than Idaho (+10.4%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 4,470 over 4,922 square miles of land.
| Measure | Custer County | Idaho | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 4,470 | 1,934,262 | +301 |
| Households | 1,943±164 | 713,005 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.17±0.18 | 2.64 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,137±142 | 795,014 | no clear change |
Custer County's population since 2000
From 4,342 in 2000 to 4,636 in 2025: up 6.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Custer County?
Custer County holds 5 places: 5 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Challis with 959 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Challis | 902 | $40,750 |
|---|---|---|
| MackayGEOID 1649240 | 439 | $43,897 |
| StanleyGEOID 1676780 | 116 | not published |
| Lost RiverGEOID 1647890 | 42 | not published |
| ClaytonGEOID 1615490 | 10 | not published |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Custer County?
The median resident of Custer County is 60.0 years old; 13.9% are under 18 and 36.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.4%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 4.5%. 4.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Custer County | Idaho | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.0±3.5 | 37.3 | +7.0 |
| Under 18 years | 13.9%±3.3 pts | 24.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 36.6%±3.8 pts | 17.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.5%±2.3 pts | 13.6% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 88.4%±2.6 pts | 78.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.1%±2.0 pts | 1.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.6 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.8 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.0%±1.7 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.6 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.8%±3.1 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.6%±2.0 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 11.2%±4.5 pts | 8.0% | – |
| With a disability | 24.8%±6.0 pts | 14.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 12.1%±4.4 pts | 9.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.9%±3.6 pts | 91.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 29.3%±8.3 pts | 31.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.9%±3.2 pts | 10.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.8%±1.4 pts | 4.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Custer County earn?
Half of Custer County's 1,943 households earn less than $67,574 a year (±$16,035), against $77,800 in Idaho. In 2015-2019 it was $50,305 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 15.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Custer County | Idaho | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $67,574±$16,035 | $77,800 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $70,154±$8,759 | $102,747 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,839±$3,320 | $38,952 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 15.8%±5.1 pts | 10.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 8.5%±10.8 pts | 12.4% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.6%±3.2 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 85.9%±5.2 pts | 91.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Custer County?
Owners occupy 76.8% of Custer County's occupied homes and renters 23.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $381,700 by its owner (±$70,646). The median renter pays $691 a month including utilities, and 35.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Custer County | Idaho | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $381,700±$70,646 | $418,600 | +$145,899 |
| Median gross rent | $691±$138 | $1,238 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 35.7%±17.3 pts | 36.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,500±$206 | $1,687 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 76.8%±7.1 pts | 72.1% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,137±142 | 795,014 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.6%±1.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.5%±5.6 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 70.4%±6.7 pts | 73.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 19.8%±5.3 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 6.1%±2.7 pts | 7.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Custer County building?
Builders took permits for 32 new housing units across Custer County in 2025 (32 single-family), 6.9 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Custer County get to work?
57.1% of Custer County's workers drive alone and 27.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 17.3 minutes.
| Measure | Custer County | Idaho | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 49.0%±8.0 pts | 63.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.0%±2.8 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 57.1%±11.3 pts | 72.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 12.3%±7.6 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.1%±1.0 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 2.1%±2.1 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 27.3%±11.3 pts | 13.3% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 17.3 min±3.2 | 21.6 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Custer County's census tracts?
Custer County is a single census tract.
| Tract 960216037960200 | 4,470 | $67,574 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Custer County compare with Idaho's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 40th of 44 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 21st of 44 |
| Residents per square mile | 43rd of 44 |
| Median household income | 22nd of 44 |
| Median home value | 13th of 44 |
| Median gross rent | 42nd of 44 |
| Poverty rate | 5th of 43 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12th of 44 |
| Median age | 1st of 44 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Custer County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.