1st Advantage MortgageCuster County households have a median income of $70,605 and median rent of $893 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Custer County by the numbers
- What it costs to live in Custer County
- How much Custer County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in Custer County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Places inside Custer County
- What a median Custer County budget can carry
- What the numbers mean for Custer County borrowers
- More Custer County figures
- Who licenses lenders for Custer County residents
- Four steps for Custer County borrowers
- More guides for Custer County
- Frequently asked questions
Custer County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Custer County's population at 11,961; only 16 of Montana's 56 county-level areas are larger. It covers 3,783 square miles of land, or about 3 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Custer County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 2 Census places inside Custer County, Miles City leads by population with about 8,407; 2 of the 2 are incorporated.
What it costs to live in Custer County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $893 in Custer County versus $1,081 statewide. By the Census definition, 39% of Custer County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $219,100, a typical Custer County house costs 3.1 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 70% of homes. Median construction year: 1965.
| Cost | Custer County | Montana figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $893/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $219,100 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 30% | n/a |
How much Custer County households make
At $70,605, the typical Custer County household income is 7% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 17th among Montana's 56 county-level areas.
| Band | Custer County | Compared with Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.9% | +2.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.8% | 0.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.6% | +1.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.7% | -3.3 pts |
About 25% of households earn under $35,000, while 32% clear $100,000. 11.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.5%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.425 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Custer County median.
Work, industries and travel time in Custer County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Custer County residents work in education and health care and 19% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in retail trade, at 19% locally and 12% for Montana. The survey's unemployment rate for Custer County averages 3.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). 4% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home. Households without a car make up 5.1% of the total (4.7% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Custer County | Gap to Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.8% | +2.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 18.7% | +7.0 pts |
| Public administration | 7.8% | +2.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.8% | -2.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.1% | +1.1 pts |
| Construction | 6.4% | -2.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 38 to 76 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $49,914 in Rosebud County to $76,250 in Fallon County; 2 of these neighbors top Custer County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custer County | - | $70,605 | $893/mo | 70% |
| Prairie County, MT | 38 mi | $51,250 | $627/mo | 84% |
| Rosebud County, MT | 54 mi | $49,914 | $672/mo | 64% |
| Fallon County, MT | 55 mi | $76,250 | $779/mo | 69% |
| Powder River County, MT | 59 mi | $67,045 | $533/mo | 79% |
| Carter County, MT | 72 mi | $54,167 | $824/mo | 62% |
| Dawson County, MT | 76 mi | $71,334 | $815/mo | 72% |
Places inside Custer County
The table lists the 2 largest of 2 Census places in Custer County, by population. Together all 2 hold about 8,408 people, so roughly 30% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 2 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miles City | city | 8,407 | $67,727 | $926 | 17 mi |
| Ismay | town | 1 | n/a | n/a | 40 mi |
What a median Custer County budget can carry
Custer County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,884 before taxes
- Median rent: $893, or 15 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 36% cap, $2,118 total minus rent leaves $1,225
Two-income households and single earners in Custer County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
What the numbers mean for Custer County borrowers
Where the Custer County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- 12% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Consolidating cards in Custer County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
More Custer County figures
27% of Custer County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Custer County | Montana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.0% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.3% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.7% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.3% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.4% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Custer County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 74.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 15.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 5.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.7% |
| 60+ min | 2.6% |
Who licenses lenders for Custer County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Custer County borrowers answers to the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Montana: Montana personal loans.
Four steps for Custer County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Custer County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Montana borrowers.
- Ask a Custer County credit union about member loans.
More guides for Custer County
For statewide rules and data, see the Montana guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Custer County household make?
About $70,605 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 3% below the Montana median.
How does Custer County rent compare with Montana?
$893 locally versus $1,081 for the state, 17% below.
Which towns does the Custer County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 2 Census places: Miles City, Ismay.
Is the fit check different in Custer County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Custer County check a lender's license?
With the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.