The Town FilesCuster, South Dakota
City in Custer County · population 1,919 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $235,600
- Household income
- $78,369
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 58 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 51.2
Custer is a city of 1,919 people in Custer County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $235,600, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of South Dakota towns, quieter than 94% of South Dakota towns, better for a vacation home than 89% of South Dakota towns.
How Custer ranks
Percentile among South Dakota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Dakota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Custer is worth $235,600, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $78,369, which is more affordable than 38% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $968 a month. 69.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Custer | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $235,600 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $968 | $785 |
| Median household income | $78,369 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 69.5% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.9% | — |
Who lives in Custer
| People | Custer | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.2 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.7% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 13.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.1% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.2% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 10.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.2% | 86.7% |
Weather in Custer
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 16.2°F. About 20.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 57.9 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 181 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Custer since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 11, 1965 about 5.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 23, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 184 times; the largest was 6.00 inches on June 22, 1968.
Severe weather in Custer County since 1996
Custer County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4903: Straight-Line Winds |
| March 13, 2026 | Fire | FM-5622: Qury Fire |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
| September 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4463: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Custer County
Custer County had 2,677 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,494 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Custer itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Custer
4 public schools with 677 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custer Elementary - 02 | K-6 | 293 | 11.3 |
| Custer High School - 01 | 9-12 | 262 | 13.1 |
| Custer Jr. High - 05 | 7-8 | 103 | 14.7 |
| A.C.E. High Academy - 06 | 9-12 | 19 | 19.0 |
Towns near Custer
- Hill City, SD11.5 mi · 872 people · home $286,200
- Colonial Pine Hills, SD22.2 mi · 1,903 people · home $406,500
- Johnson Siding, SD23.4 mi · 614 people · home $471,700
- Hot Springs, SD24.9 mi · 3,395 people · home $202,600
- Rapid City, SD28.3 mi · 74,703 people · home $299,400
- Blackhawk, SD29.7 mi · 3,026 people · home $273,300
Custer questions
Is Custer, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Custer scores better for retirees than 97% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 94%. 34.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.2).
How much does a house cost in Custer?
The median owner-occupied home in Custer is valued at $235,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,369, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $968 a month.
What is the weather like in Custer?
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 16.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.7 inches of precipitation a year and 57.9 inches of snow.
Does Custer get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Custer since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 11, 1965. The typical South Dakota town has had 13.
- 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)