Custer County, South Dakota Demographics 2026
Custer County, South Dakota has a population of 8,892, the 21st most populous county in South Dakota. The median household income is $84,112 and the median home value is $372,100. The poverty rate is 9.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Custer County Quick Facts
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 | 8,686 | 8,892 | +2.4% |
| Median household income | $81,958 | $84,112 | +2.6% |
| Median home value | $327,200 | $372,100 | +13.7% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 35 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Custer County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custer | 2,341 | $78,369 | 14.2% | $235,600 |
| Hermosa | 353 | $53,203 | 14.2% | $148,800 |
| Pringle | 206 | N/A | 4.4% | N/A |
| Buffalo Gap | 131 | $54,063 | 1.5% | $100,000 |
| Fairburn | 61 | $41,250 | 0.0% | $85,000 |
Explore South Dakota Rankings
Population Overview
Custer County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 8,892. It is the 21st most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Custer County is 57.6 years. This is 52% higher than the state median of 38.0 years. Only 13.8% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 11.7% 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 $84,112. This is 12% higher than the state median of $75,081. It is also 4% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.0%. This is 25% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 2.3%. This is 23% lower than the state rate of 2.9%. The median home value is $372,100. Housing costs are 45% higher than the state median of $257,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.4x. 85.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% higher than the state average of 68.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Custer County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.1%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 2.1%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.
Education
31.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is about the same as the state rate of 31.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.7%.
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 South Dakota 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, South Dakota?
Custer County has a population of 8,892, making it the 21st most populous county in South Dakota.
What is the median income in Custer County?
The median household income in Custer County is $84,112 with a poverty rate of 9.0%.
How many cities are in Custer County, South Dakota?
Custer County contains 5 Census-designated places.