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Custer, SD
City in Custer County, South Dakota.
Population
2,341
Land area
2.6sq mi
People per sq mi
916
ZIP codes
0
Custer and its ZIP codes
Custer at a glance
- Custer is about 77 times as dense as South Dakota as a whole.
- It is the 41st most populous of 439 cities and towns in South Dakota.
- Households here earn a median of $78,369 a year, 4% more than the South Dakota figure of $75,081.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $235,600 (8% below South Dakota) and median rent is $968 a month.
Local data for Custer, SD
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Custer, SD, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$78,369
Poverty rate
14.2%
Median home value
$235,600
Median rent
$968/mo
Homeownership
69.5%
Bachelor's or higher
26.1%
Median age
51.2
Average commute
18.7 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (740), Irish Americans (439), Norwegian Americans (80).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Custer County. PPP loans are for Custer.
Unemployment rate
2.2%
Aug 2026, +0.1 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$50,345
2,690 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$72,654
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$117M
FY 2026, $14,123 per person
How people get to work
Custer, SD, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone81.8%
- Carpooled7.0%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked2.6%
- Bicycle0.5%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home8.1%
Average one-way commute: 18.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Custer, SD, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: wildfire
Storm events since 1996
1,618
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
44
0.8% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
80° / 16°F
20.7 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone6 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Custer, SD, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
32.9%
U.S. 33.3% about the same
Diabetes
13.0%
U.S. 12.1% +0.9 pts
Smoking
12.9%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
6.8%
U.S. 11.1% -4.3 pts
Cities near Custer
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| PringleTown | 11 mi | 0.2 |
| Hill CityCity | 11 mi | 1.3 |
| KeystoneTown | 12 mi | 3 |
| FairburnTown | 20 mi | 0.3 |
| HermosaTown | 21 mi | 0.9 |
| Colonial Pine HillsCensus-designated place | 22 mi | 15.3 |
| Johnson SidingCensus-designated place | 24 mi | 3.7 |
| Buffalo GapTown | 24 mi | 0.3 |
| Hot SpringsCity | 24 mi | 4.3 |
| Maverick JunctionCensus-designated place | 27 mi | 0.4 |
| Hill View Heights, WYCensus-designated place | 28 mi | 2.2 |
| Rapid CityCity | 28 mi | 56 |
| BlackhawkCensus-designated place | 30 mi | 4.7 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Custer, SD in?
- Custer is in Custer County, South Dakota.
- What is the population of Custer, SD?
- About 2,341 people live in Custer, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Custer?
- Nearby places include Pringle (11 mi), Hill City (11 mi), Keystone (12 mi), Fairburn (20 mi), Hermosa (21 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023