The Town FilesCuster, Michigan
Township in Mason County · population 1,321 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $184,000
- Household income
- $56,172
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 97 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 44.8
Custer is a township of 1,321 people in Mason County, Michigan. The median home is worth $184,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 85% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 73% 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 $184,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $56,172, which is more affordable than 26% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $788 a month. 90.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Custer | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $184,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $788 | $955 |
| Median household income | $56,172 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Custer
| People | Custer | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Custer
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 18.6°F. About 36.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 97.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Custer since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 12, 1972 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 12, 1972.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 3, 2012.
Severe weather in Mason County since 1996
Mason County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 24, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1226: Severe Storms |
Jobs and pay in Mason County
Mason County had 10,186 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,523 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Custer itself the ACS puts it at 7%.
Towns near Custer
- Scottville, MI3.2 mi · 1,356 people · home $134,300
- Eden, MI5.8 mi · 580 people · home $184,600
- Branch, MI5.9 mi · 1,405 people · home $159,500
- Amber, MI6.5 mi · 2,529 people · home $228,700
- Sherman, MI6.6 mi · 1,127 people · home $177,100
- Riverton, MI7.7 mi · 1,232 people · home $186,200
- Victory, MI8.8 mi · 1,406 people · home $300,000
- Sheridan, MI9.8 mi · 1,044 people · home $172,600
Custer questions
Is Custer, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Custer scores better for retirees than 50% of Michigan towns and quieter than 45%. 23.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.8).
How much does a house cost in Custer?
The median owner-occupied home in Custer is valued at $184,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,172, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $788 a month.
What is the weather like in Custer?
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 18.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.3 inches of precipitation a year and 97.2 inches of snow.
Does Custer get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Custer since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 12, 1972. 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)