The Town FilesCuster, Michigan
Township in Antrim County · population 1,150 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $237,200
- Household income
- $83,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 132 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 53.5
Custer is a township of 1,150 people in Antrim County, Michigan. The median home is worth $237,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 96% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 90% of Michigan towns, quieter than 82% of Michigan towns.
How Custer ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Custer is worth $237,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $83,750, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $814 a month. 93.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Custer | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $237,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $814 | $955 |
| Median household income | $83,750 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 55.3% | — |
Who lives in Custer
| People | Custer | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.7% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 25.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Custer
July highs average 78.8°F and January lows 10.6°F. About 33.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 131.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 179 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Custer since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 8, 1964 about 5.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 22, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 8, 2016.
Severe weather in Antrim County since 1996
Antrim County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4880: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Antrim County
Antrim County had 5,128 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,968 a year. Unemployment was 5.4% in 2023; in Custer itself the ACS puts it at 7%.
Towns near Custer
- Mancelona, MI4.8 mi · 1,344 people · home $131,400
- Helena, MI5.3 mi · 937 people · home $382,000
- Rapid River, MI5.4 mi · 1,245 people · home $185,300
- Bellaire, MI5.6 mi · 1,053 people · home $230,100
- Kearney, MI7.1 mi · 1,780 people · home $240,600
- Rapid City, MI7.5 mi · 1,357 people · home $214,700
- Forest Home, MI7.8 mi · 1,675 people · home $307,300
- Clearwater, MI8.0 mi · 2,497 people · home $218,000
Custer questions
Is Custer, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Custer scores better for retirees than 96% of Michigan towns and quieter than 82%. 28.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.5).
How much does a house cost in Custer?
The median owner-occupied home in Custer is valued at $237,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,750, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $814 a month.
What is the weather like in Custer?
July highs average 78.8°F and January lows 10.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.7 inches of precipitation a year and 131.6 inches of snow.
Does Custer get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Custer since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 8, 1964. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)