County · South Dakota
Custer County, South Dakota
Custer County, South Dakota. Custer County had 9,431 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 13.4% since 2020, faster than South Dakota (+5.5%). It holds 5 places (5 cities, villages and boroughs) and 2 census tracts. GEOID 46033.
Custer County is one of the 3 counties of the Rapid City, SD metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
9,431
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 8,318 · ACS 2020-2024: 8,892
Median household income
$84,112
±$3,932 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $75,081
Median home value
$372,100
±$47,295 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $257,400
Median gross rent
$1,112
±$219 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $946
How many people live in Custer County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 8,318 residents in Custer County. The Census Bureau estimates 9,431 for July 1, 2025, up 13.4% since 2020, faster than South Dakota (+5.5%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 8,892 over 1,557 square miles of land.
| Measure | Custer County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 8,892 | 907,428 | +173 |
| Households | 4,451±167 | 365,544 | +575 |
| Average household size | 1.95±0.07 | 2.39 | −0.20 |
| Housing units | 5,291±186 | 408,584 | no clear change |
Custer County's population since 2000
From 7,275 in 2000 to 9,431 in 2025: up 29.6%. 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 Custer with 1,803 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Custer | 1,919 | $78,369 |
|---|---|---|
| HermosaGEOID 4628300 | 382 | $53,203 |
| Buffalo GapGEOID 4608340 | 131 | $54,063 |
| PringleGEOID 4651940 | 109 | not published |
| FairburnGEOID 4620340 | 60 | $41,250 |
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 57.6 years old; 13.8% are under 18 and 33.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 87.7%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 5.0%. 2.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Custer County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.6±1.0 | 38.0 | +2.8 |
| Under 18 years | 13.8% | 24.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 33.7%±0.6 pts | 18.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.1% | 4.8% | −0.8 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 87.7%±1.6 pts | 79.8% | −2.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.5 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.4 pts | 1.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 2.0%±1.0 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.0%±1.3 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.4%±1.4 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.7%±1.5 pts | 4.0% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.6%±2.5 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 13.0%±3.0 pts | 7.9% | – |
| With a disability | 18.9%±2.7 pts | 12.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 10.8%±2.7 pts | 9.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.7%±2.4 pts | 93.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 31.6%±4.7 pts | 31.9% | +8.1 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 12.6%±3.1 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.1%±1.4 pts | 3.2% | – |
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 4,451 households earn less than $84,112 a year (±$3,932), against $75,081 in South Dakota. In 2015-2019 the median was $72,023 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $12,089 after inflation. 9.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Custer County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $84,112±$3,932 | $75,081 | +$12,089 |
| Mean household income | $110,413±$15,797 | $98,527 | – |
| Per capita income | $52,898±$7,321 | $40,550 | +$11,486 |
| People below the poverty line | 9.0%±2.6 pts | 11.9% | −4.8 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 8.3%±5.4 pts | 14.3% | −18.7 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.6%±1.9 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.8%±4.0 pts | 89.6% | – |
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 85.6% of Custer County's occupied homes and renters 14.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $372,100 by its owner (±$47,295). The median renter pays $1,112 a month including utilities, and 14.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Custer County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $372,100±$47,295 | $257,400 | +$108,239 |
| Median gross rent | $1,112±$219 | $946 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 14.8%±8.1 pts | 30.4% | −27.0 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,888±$159 | $1,680 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 85.6%±3.6 pts | 68.6% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,291±186 | 408,584 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 13.0%±9.9 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 75.4%±4.3 pts | 66.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 16.2%±3.7 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.2%±1.8 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 10.7%±2.8 pts | 15.8% | – |
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 260 new housing units across Custer County in 2025 (260 single-family), 27.6 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?
74.0% of Custer County's workers drive alone and 12.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 29.5 minutes.
| Measure | Custer County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 55.2%±3.3 pts | 67.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.3%±1.6 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 74.0%±5.9 pts | 77.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.2%±4.2 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 2.8%±1.9 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 12.0%±3.9 pts | 9.7% | +6.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 29.5 min±4.1 | 17.8 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 divided into 2 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $83,062 (Tract 9651) to $87,011 (Tract 9652).
| Tract 965146033965100 | 6,339±259 | $83,062 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 965246033965200 | 2,553±259 | $87,011 |
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 South Dakota's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 21st of 66 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 3rd of 66 |
| Residents per square mile | 33rd of 66 |
| Median household income | 6th of 66 |
| Median home value | 1st of 66 |
| Median gross rent | 4th of 65 |
| Poverty rate | 44th of 65 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12th of 66 |
| Median age | 1st of 66 |
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.