Cost of Living in Custer County, South Dakota
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Custer County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Custer County ranks #2,478 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 21%)
Sourced county brief
Custer County Median Home Value Reaches $372,100
Custer County's median home value was estimated at $372,100, which is $191,079 above the South Dakota unweighted county mean of $181,021. The median gross rent in the county was $1,112 per month, a figure $327 higher than the state unweighted county mean of $785. For renter-occupied households, the official median Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) was 19.6%, which is 3.1 percentage points below the state unweighted county mean of 22.7%. Median selected monthly owner costs were $1,140, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $853. The median renter-household income was reported at $78,958. These data points from the ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates provide a statistical overview of housing costs in the county. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Custer County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 19.6% of renter household income in Custer County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,112 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,140. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $44,480 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The South Dakota unweighted mean of county median rents is $785 per month. Custer County's $1,112 median is 41.7% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Custer County
Rent Burden
15.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,963
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.3%
of gross income
The median home in Custer County may be a stretch
Median home value is $372,100. Estimated monthly cost: $2,971 vs. your max of $1,963.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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