Custer County, Nebraska Demographics 2026

Name: Custer County, Nebraska Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Custer County, Nebraska has a population of 10,518, the 25th most populous county in Nebraska. The median household income is $67,906 and the median home value is $157,800. The poverty rate is 7.1%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Custer County Quick Facts

Population 10,518

Median Household Income $67,906

Median Home Value $157,800

Poverty Rate 7.1%

Unemployment Rate 2.6%

Median Age 42.1 years

Homeownership Rate 69.0%

Affordability Ratio 2.3x

Bachelor's Degree+ 24.3%

High School Graduation 95.0%

Cities/Places 12

Population 10,518 25th of 93

Median Income $67,906 11% lower than state

Poverty Rate 7.1%

Unemployment 2.6%

How Custer County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	10,544	10,518	-0.2%
Median household income	$66,310	$67,906	+2.4%
Median home value	$160,500	$157,800	-1.7%

Median Household Income

Custer

$67,906

$76,475

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Custer

$157,800

$238,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 14.0%

$25K-$50K 21.0%

$50K-$100K 35.7%

$100K+ 29.2%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

2.4%

$10K-$15K

3.2%

$15K-$20K

3.6%

$20K-$25K

4.8%

$25K-$30K

2.9%

$30K-$35K

4.7%

$35K-$40K

3.3%

$40K-$45K

5.4%

$45K-$50K

4.7%

$50K-$60K

9.7%

$60K-$75K

12.1%

$75K-$100K

13.9%

$100K-$125K

11.4%

$125K-$150K

6.0%

$150K-$200K

6.6%

$200K+

5.2%

Employment

2.6% Unemployment Rate State: 3.0%|National: 5.2%

64.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 69.0%

Renter 31.1%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.3x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $853/mo 15.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

24.3%

18-34

17.5%

35-54

22.0%

55-74

26.0%

75+

10.1%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 41 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Custer County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Broken Bow	3,502	$60,129	8.8%	$133,200
Arnold	945	$64,688	8.0%	$146,700
Ansley	563	$64,688	5.9%	$89,800
Callaway	562	$51,146	8.7%	$149,100
Sargent	534	$54,423	10.7%	$57,900
Merna	383	$61,875	19.7%	$100,000
Mason City	189	$64,375	11.1%	N/A
Oconto	167	$55,625	6.0%	$60,000
Anselmo	93	$60,673	10.8%	$72,500
Comstock	80	$47,500	3.8%	$80,800
Berwyn	51	$46,250	9.8%	$75,000
Westerville	19	N/A	0.0%	N/A

Explore Nebraska Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Custer County is located in Nebraska with a total population of 10,518. It is the 25th most populous county out of 93 in Nebraska. The county encompasses 12 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Custer County is 42.1 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 37.2 years. 10.1% 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 County is $67,906. This is 11% lower than the state median of $76,475. It is also 16% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.1%. This is 33% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.6%. This is 14% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $157,800. Housing costs are 34% lower than the state median of $238,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Custer County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 69.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Custer County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.0%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 4.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.0%) is well below the state average of 12.7%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 2.6%.

Education

24.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 30% lower than the state rate of 34.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Custer County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Nebraska and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Custer County, Nebraska?

Custer County has a population of 10,518, making it the 25th most populous county in Nebraska.

What is the median income in Custer County?

The median household income in Custer County is $67,906 with a poverty rate of 7.1%.

How many cities are in Custer County, Nebraska?

Custer County contains 12 Census-designated places.