1st Advantage MortgageAbout 60% of Custer County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $59,738. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Custer County at a glance
- What Custer County households earn
- Custer County housing compared with Oklahoma
- Work, industries and travel time in Custer County
- Custer County next to its neighbors
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Custer County
- Budget math at the Custer County median
- Who lives in Custer County, in numbers
- Reading the Custer County data as a borrower
- Before you sign
- Licensing and complaints for Custer County
- More guides for Custer County
- Frequently asked questions
Custer County at a glance
Roughly 28,259 residents live in Custer County, Oklahoma, 33rd by population among the state's 77 counties and county equivalents. It covers 989 square miles of land, or about 29 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Custer County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 6 Census places inside Custer County, Weatherford leads by population with about 12,004; 6 of the 6 are incorporated.
What Custer County households earn
At $59,738, the typical Custer County household income is 9% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | Custer County | +/- vs Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.6% | +2.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.2% | +4.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.3% | -5.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.9% | -0.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 24% of Custer County households make $100,000 or more, and 29% make less than $35,000. 16.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 15.3%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.477 (0 is perfect equality). 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.
Custer County housing compared with Oklahoma
Renters in Custer County pay a median of $824 a month, 19% below the Oklahoma figure of $1,014. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 50% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $181,500, about 3.0 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 60%. Median construction year: 1978.
| Home costs | Custer County | Oklahoma | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $824/mo | $1,014/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $181,500 | $199,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 60% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.5% | 8.2% | n/a |
Work, industries and travel time in Custer County
The biggest employer of Custer County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 11% locally and 4% for Oklahoma. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 81% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 4.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Custer County | Gap to Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.3% | +2.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.9% | +1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.1% | +2.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.9% | +7.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.2% | -2.0 pts |
| Construction | 6.4% | -1.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Custer County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Custer County's, from 23 to 48 miles away. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Custer County; Roger Mills County is highest at $66,094 and Beckham County lowest at $53,328.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custer County | - | $59,738 | $824/mo | 60% |
| Dewey County, OK | 23 mi | $62,569 | $912/mo | 76% |
| Washita County, OK | 25 mi | $63,501 | $815/mo | 76% |
| Blaine County, OK | 36 mi | $61,642 | $852/mo | 73% |
| Roger Mills County, OK | 42 mi | $66,094 | $795/mo | 83% |
| Beckham County, OK | 47 mi | $53,328 | $904/mo | 68% |
| Caddo County, OK | 48 mi | $55,353 | $734/mo | 73% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Custer County
6 Census places fall mainly inside Custer County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 23,093 residents, leaving about 18% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $71,094 at the median in Custer City, $39,632 in Arapaho. Rent is cheapest in Thomas ($723) and steepest in Custer City ($1,105). No Custer County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weatherford | city | 12,004 | $54,704 | $804 | 19 mi |
| Clinton | city | 8,388 | $58,207 | $883 | 10 mi |
| Thomas | city | 1,170 | $62,500 | $723 | 16 mi |
| Arapaho | town | 715 | $39,632 | $889 | 5 mi |
| Custer City | town | 566 | $71,094 | $1,105 | 6 mi |
| Butler | town | 250 | $69,688 | $588 | 11 mi |
Budget math at the Custer County median
Custer County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,978 before taxes
- 17% goes to median rent ($824)
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,317 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Who lives in Custer County, in numbers
32% of Custer County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 11% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Custer County | Oklahoma statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.8 | 37.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 31.7% | 28.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.2% | 10.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.3% | 12.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 9.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.4% | 15.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | 5.0% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Custer County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 60.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 7.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.3% |
| 60+ min | 8.4% |
Reading the Custer County data as a borrower
What the Custer County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Medical bills. 11% of Custer County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Renters under pressure. When 50% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Custer County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Custer County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Licensing and complaints for Custer County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Custer County, check the Oklahoma State Banking Department. The Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit handles consumer-credit questions as well. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Oklahoma guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Custer County
The Oklahoma guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Custer County household make?
About $59,738 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 8% below the Oklahoma median.
What do renters pay in Custer County?
$824 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
I live in a small Custer County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Weatherford, Clinton, Thomas, Arapaho, Custer City and 1 more.
Does living in Custer County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Custer County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in Custer County check a lender's license?
With the Oklahoma State Banking Department. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.