Custer County, Colorado Income Statistics
Custer County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Custer County Below averageLess wealthy than 74% of counties in Colorado
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Custer County | Colorado Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $72,416 | $95,803 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $59,201 | $68,113 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 8.6% | 5.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 15.0% | 18.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 10.4% | 17.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Custer County is about 24% lower than in Colorado. Income has been growing faster in Custer County (8.6%/yr) than in Colorado (5.4%/yr).
About 15% of adults in Custer County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Colorado average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Custer County, Colorado grew by 62.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $72,416 in 2024. That's an average of about 8.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Custer County
| Metric | Custer County | Colorado Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.555 | 0.524 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $63,819 | $78,863 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $86,437 | $64,818 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | -35.4% | 17.8% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Custer County, it is 0.555, higher than Colorado's 0.524, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Women's income is about 35% more than men's income in Custer County, Colorado. Over a 35-year career, a 35% wage gap accumulates to roughly $791,630 in unearned income for male workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Custer County, Colorado has widened from about 31% to -35% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $35,842 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Custer County | Colorado Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 23.5% | 21.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 79 people are unemployed in Custer County, Colorado.
The average commute time in Custer County is 22 minutes, about the same as in Colorado.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Custer County, Colorado has fallen from 12.3% to 3.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 15.4% in 2013.
Custer County, CO Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Custer County, CO is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 5,247 residents against a local median of 16,581. Where Custer County, CO breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 64% above the local median of 5.2%/yr at 8.6%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $72,416 against a local median of $54,796, 32% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Custer County, CO is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 3.0%/yr on income growth, so Custer County, CO sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Custer County, CO has the highest income growth of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custer County, CO | 5,247 | $72,416 #2/6 | 8.6%/yr #1/6 | 3.7% #4/6 | 0.555 #4/6 |
| Fremont County, CO | 49,630 | $63,374 | 5.2%/yr | 4.2% | 0.597 |
| Huerfano County, CO | 6,972 | $53,887 | 6.3%/yr | 8.0% | 0.557 |
| Alamosa County, CO | 16,581 | $54,796 | 6.7%/yr | 3.7% | 0.535 |
| Teller County, CO | 24,825 | $84,363 | 3.7%/yr | 3.7% | 0.514 |
| Costilla County, CO | 3,607 | $37,752 | 4.5%/yr | 3.5% | 0.546 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Custer County, Colorado has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat worse than Colorado, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Custer County, Colorado.
How Rich Is Custer County, Colorado?
Custer County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $72,416, about 24% lower than the Colorado average of $95,803.
How has median household income changed in Custer County, Colorado?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Custer County, Colorado rose 62%, from $44,639 to $72,416. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Colorado as a whole: +62% against +70%.
What was the median household income in Custer County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Custer County, Colorado was $72,006, up 8% from $66,698 in 2022. The Colorado median that year was $93,071.
What was the median household income in Custer County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Custer County, Colorado was $60,469. By 2024 it had risen 20% to $72,416.
What is the Gini coefficient in Custer County, Colorado?
The Gini coefficient in Custer County is 0.555. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Custer County, Colorado?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Custer County, Colorado has widened from about 31% to -35% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $35,842 since 2009.
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