Custer, Montana Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 199, 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 Montana, within Yellowstone County. The total population is 199. It ranks as the 252nd most populous out of 475 Census-designated places in Montana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Custer is 54.6 years. This is 35% higher than the state median of 40.4 years. 11.1% 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 $82,500. This is 14% higher than the state median of $72,509. It is also 2% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.1%. This is 75% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.5%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. This is 31% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $137,500. Housing costs are 63% lower than the state median of $375,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Custer is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 69.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Custer has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.4% of all residents. Asian residents account for 2.5%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (2.5% vs 0.8%).

Education

29.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 35.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Custer, Montana 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 Montana state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 475 Census-designated places in Montana. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.