The Town Files

Custer County, South Dakota

8,892 people. The median home is worth $372,100 (typical South Dakota town: $182,100) and the median household earns $84,112.

Towns in Custer County

Towns in Custer County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Custer1,919$235,600$78,36951.2

People and housing

Custer CountyTypical South Dakota town
Median home value$372,100$182,100
Median rent$1,112$785
Median household income$84,112$66,086
Median age57.639.5
Bachelor's degree or higher31.6%23.6%
Below the poverty line9.0%10.1%

Jobs and pay

2,677 jobs in 2024, average pay $47,494 a year.

Largest industries in Custer CountyRetail301 jobs · $29,011Health care & social assistan…266 jobs · $62,850Construction193 jobs · $47,737Other services89 jobs · $38,965Real estate55 jobs · $36,429Finance & insurance53 jobs · $71,274
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Custer County0%2%4%6%2000200420082012201620202023 2.5%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 1,618 storm events in Custer County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Custer County by type since 1996Hail653Flood20Tornado6Blizzard43High Wind162Heavy Snow66Flash Flood22Winter Storm230Winter Weather145Cold/Wind Chill15
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Custer County has been included in 17 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
April 7, 2026Straight-Line WindsDR-4903: Straight-Line Winds
March 13, 2026FireFM-5622: Qury Fire
April 5, 2020BiologicalDR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3475: Covid-19
September 23, 2019FloodDR-4463: Severe Storms And Flooding
December 13, 2017FireFM-5229: Legion Lake Fire
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).