Custer County, South Dakota 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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B
Custer County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Custer County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $83,495 | $75,087 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $62,322 | $53,860 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.1% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 13.4% | 10.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.2% | 8.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Custer County is about 11% higher than in South Dakota. Income has been growing faster in Custer County (6.1%/yr) than in South Dakota (4.6%/yr).
About 13% of adults in Custer County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the South Dakota average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Custer County, South Dakota grew by 82.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $83,495 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Custer County
| Metric | Custer County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.487 | 0.504 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $84,476 | $62,990 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $57,693 | $50,603 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 31.7% | 19.7% | 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 0.487, lower than South Dakota's 0.504, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 46% more than women's income in Custer County, South Dakota. Over a 35-year career, a 46% wage gap accumulates to roughly $937,405 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Custer County, South Dakota has widened from about 31% to 32% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2020, and was narrowest at 19% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $14,648 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Custer County widened by 0.7 points while South Dakota's narrowed by 4.5 points.
Employment
| Metric | Custer County | South Dakota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% | 2.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 12.0% | 9.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 25 | 15 | 22 |
Approximately 97 people are unemployed in Custer County, South Dakota.
The average commute time in Custer County is 25 minutes, longer than the 15 minutes in South Dakota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Custer County, South Dakota has fallen from 2.6% to 2.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 5.4% in 2020 and fell as low as 2.0% in 2023.
Custer County, SD Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Custer County, SD is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 8,892 residents against a local median of 13,491. Where Custer County, SD breaks from the counties next to it is median household income, sitting 19% above the local median of $70,318 at $83,495. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread $33,974 on median household income, so Custer County, SD sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Custer County, SD has the highest median household income 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, SD | 8,892 | $83,495 #1/6 | 6.1%/yr #1/6 | 2.3% #3/6 | 0.487 #1/6 |
| Fall River County, SD | 7,258 | $70,318 | 5.7%/yr | 2.5% | 0.490 |
| Pennington County, SD | 113,512 | $74,480 | 4.7%/yr | 3.1% | 0.506 |
| Lawrence County, SD | 27,233 | $72,290 | 5.4%/yr | 1.7% | 0.508 |
| Oglala Lakota County, SD | 13,491 | $40,506 | 5.5%/yr | 15.9% | 0.742 |
| Dawes County, NE | 8,140 | $55,690 | 3.5%/yr | 1.6% | 0.532 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Custer County, South Dakota has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with South Dakota, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Custer County, South Dakota.
How Rich Is Custer County, South Dakota?
Custer County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $83,495, about 11% higher than the South Dakota average of $75,087.
Are incomes growing in Custer County, South Dakota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Custer County, South Dakota rose 83%, from $45,750 to $83,495. Over the same years, income here outpaced South Dakota as a whole: +83% against +67%.
What was the median household income in Custer County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Custer County, South Dakota was $84,652, up 11% from $75,926 in 2022. The South Dakota median that year was $72,558.
What was the median household income in Custer County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Custer County, South Dakota was $63,066. By 2024 it had risen 32% to $83,495.
How many people earn six figures in Custer County, South Dakota?
Yes. 13% of adults in Custer County, South Dakota earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 7), against 10% (about 1 in 10) in South Dakota. 9% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 8% in South Dakota.
What is the Gini coefficient in Custer County, South Dakota?
The Gini coefficient in Custer County is 0.487. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Custer County, South Dakota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Custer County, South Dakota has widened from about 31% to 32% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2020, and was narrowest at 19% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $14,648 since 2009.
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