1st Advantage MortgageThe median Custer County household earns $84,112, and 9% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in South Dakota before sharing details.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Custer County
- How Custer County residents earn a living
- Income in Custer County compared with South Dakota
- What it costs to live in Custer County
- Regional comparison for Custer County
- The communities that make up Custer County
- Debt-to-income at Custer County's medians
- More Custer County figures
- Before borrowing in Custer County
- South Dakota rules that apply in Custer County
- A Custer County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Custer County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Custer County
Custer County is home to about 8,892 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 21st most populous of 66 county-level areas in South Dakota. It covers 1,557 square miles of land, or about 6 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Rapid City, SD metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (5 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Custer, with about 2,341 residents, or 26% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Custer County figure on this page as a rough guide.
How Custer County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 14%. Professional and administrative services stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.3% in Custer County. About 74% drive to work alone and 24% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 0.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Custer County share | +/- vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.1% | -2.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.7% | +6.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 12.6% | +6.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | +0.2 pts |
| Public administration | 7.4% | +2.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.4% | -0.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Custer County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Income in Custer County compared with South Dakota
At $84,112, the typical Custer County household income is 28% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 6th of 66.
| Band | Custer County | Compared with South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.9% | -1.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.0% | -1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.0% | +1.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.2% | +1.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 38% of Custer County households make $100,000 or more, and 20% make less than $35,000. Census counts 9.0% of Custer County residents in poverty, against 11.9% across South Dakota. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.471 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Custer County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
What it costs to live in Custer County
A typical Custer County rental runs $1,112 a month including utilities, which is 18% above South Dakota. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 20% of renter households here. With a median value of $372,100, a typical Custer County house costs 4.4 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 86%. The median year built is 1994.
| Cost | Custer County | South Dakota figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,112/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $372,100 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 86% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 20% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 42% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 16.2% | 7.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 11% | n/a |
Because most Custer County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Regional comparison for Custer County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (32 to 66 miles). Weston County leads the group on income ($89,509), Oglala Lakota County trails ($41,417), and Custer County out-earns 5 of the six. Some neighbors are in Wyoming. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Custer County resident follows South Dakota rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custer County | - | $84,112 | $1,112/mo | 86% |
| Fall River County, SD | 32 mi | $67,917 | $931/mo | 72% |
| Pennington County, SD | 39 mi | $74,517 | $1,120/mo | 69% |
| Lawrence County, SD | 49 mi | $73,384 | $938/mo | 65% |
| Oglala Lakota County, SD | 51 mi | $41,417 | $584/mo | 51% |
| Weston County, WY | 56 mi | $89,509 | $698/mo | 87% |
| Niobrara County, WY | 66 mi | $64,113 | $605/mo | 62% |
The communities that make up Custer County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Custer County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 3,092 people, so roughly 65% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 5 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custer | city | 2,341 | $78,369 | $968 | 9 mi |
| Hermosa | town | 353 | $53,203 | $1,264 | 17 mi |
| Pringle | town | 206 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Buffalo Gap | town | 131 | $54,063 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Fairburn | town | 61 | $41,250 | n/a | 13 mi |
Debt-to-income at Custer County's medians
Custer County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Custer County: $7,009
- Median rent: $1,112, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 43% cap, $3,014 total minus rent leaves $1,902
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
More Custer County figures
Degree holders: 32% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 10.8%, against 9.0% for South Dakota.
| Indicator | Custer County | All of South Dakota | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.6 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 31.6% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.3% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.8% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 0.7% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.0% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.3% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Custer County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.3% |
| 60+ min | 13.1% |
Before borrowing in Custer County
Based on the Custer County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Custer County. For the 11% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Long drives. With 24% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Custer County budgets.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 16% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 58, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
South Dakota rules that apply in Custer County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Custer County resident can confirm its license with the South Dakota Division of Banking. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on South Dakota: South Dakota personal loans.
A Custer County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Custer County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Custer County
The South Dakota guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Custer County?
$84,112 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $75,081 for South Dakota. It ranks 6th of 66 in the state.
What do renters pay in Custer County?
$1,112 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
Does this page cover Custer?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Custer County, such as Hermosa, Pringle, Buffalo Gap.
Are Custer County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Custer County?
Start with the South Dakota Division of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.