Custer, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 275, Custer's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Custer is a small community located in Michigan, within Mason County. The total population is 275. It ranks as the 636th most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.

Age Demographics

The median age in Custer is 38.9 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 40.2 years. 17.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Custer is $63,125. This is 13% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 22% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.1%. This is about the same as the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 1.9%. This is 67% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $131,300. Housing costs are 43% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Custer is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 85.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Custer has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.3% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.1%. The Black or African American population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

12.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 61% lower than the state rate of 32.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Custer, Michigan is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Michigan state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 745 Census-designated places in Michigan. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.