County profile · Montana
Custer County, MT market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Custer County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 12,034
- +1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 5,038
- Median household income
- $70,605
- +33.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $219,100
- Jobs located here
- 5,790
- Highest market score
- 67
- Pet businesses, #391 of 2,200 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Custer County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Custer County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 12,034 people live in Custer County, in 5,038 households. Population estimates show Custer County grew 1.5% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Custer County is $70,605 a year, 13% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 33.3% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Custer County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 122, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on clothing, shoes and related services (79).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Custer County are for pet businesses (67), gyms and studios (64) and real estate businesses (59). Custer County ranks #391 of 2,200 scored counties for pet businesses.
For its number of households, Custer County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for insurance agencies (2.2 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for salons, barbers and spas (20% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Custer County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Custer County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pet businesses | 67 | #391 of 2,200 | 5 | 9.9 | $873K | 99 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 64 | #458 of 2,088 | 6 | 11.9 | $745K | 113 | Under 3 |
| Real estate | 59 | #613 of 2,229 | 9 | 17.9 | Index only | 214 | 9 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 56 | #737 of 2,176 | 8 | 15.9 | Index only | 191 | 6 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 49 | #1,225 of 2,385 | 19 | 37.7 | $242K | 114 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | 47 | #1,321 of 2,358 | 9 | 17.9 | $1.7M | 72 | 7 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 43 | #1,483 of 2,402 | 12 | 23.8 | $2.4M | 71 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | 39 | #1,064 of 1,530 | 5 | 9.9 | $1.2M | 47 | Under 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 38 | #1,725 of 2,405 | 28 | 55.6 | $638K | 96 | 10 |
| Auto repair and car care | 38 | #1,749 of 2,401 | 27 | 53.6 | $218K | 81 | 11 |
| Hair salons | 34 | #1,921 of 2,339 | 14 | 27.8 | $329K | 76 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 31 | #1,996 of 2,378 | 19 | 37.7 | $310K | 70 | 10 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 30 | #1,640 of 1,886 | 7 | 13.9 | $852K | 87 | 5 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 30 | #1,762 of 2,063 | 9 | 17.9 | $2M | 54 | 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 30 | #2,033 of 2,405 | 59 | 117.1 | $303K | 82 | 25 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 29 | #1,746 of 2,087 | 8 | 15.9 | $1M | 80 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | 26 | #1,267 of 1,422 | 5 | 9.9 | $1.2M | 50 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 26 | #1,895 of 2,090 | 7 | 13.9 | $2.6M | 50 | 12 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 26 | #1,957 of 2,222 | 10 | 19.8 | $1.8M | 59 | 12 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 25 | #2,223 of 2,394 | 72 | 142.9 | $83K | 54 | 19 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 23 | #2,020 of 2,210 | 13 | 25.8 | $629K | 71 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 21 | #2,066 of 2,272 | 17 | 33.7 | $645K | 51 | 13 |
| Chiropractors | 20 | #1,432 of 1,490 | 5 | 9.9 | $1.2M | 50 | 4 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.9 | $678K | 68 | 10 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.9 | $1.5M | 48 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.9 | $1.1M | 86 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.9 | $3.2M | 133 | 11 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.9 | $1.5M | 84 | 10 |
| Convenience stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 6.0 | $9.6M | 121 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.0 | $8.9M | Too few | 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.0 | $6.4M | Too few | 4 |
| Grocery stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.0 | $14.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.0 | $3M | Too few | 5 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.0 | $3M | Too few | 10 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.0 | $2.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.0 | $2.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.0 | $2.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.0 | $2.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $5.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $769K | Too few | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $12.9M | Too few | 7 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $8.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $4.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $4.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $12.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $4.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 5 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Custer County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $5.9M | $1,170 | 122 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $15.4M | $3,065 | 118 |
| Food away from home | $17.9M | $3,547 | 87 |
| Groceries | $28.7M | $5,698 | 90 |
| Personal care products and services | $4.6M | $914 | 91 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2.7M | $539 | 93 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $4.5M | $887 | 90 |
| Medical and dental services | $6M | $1,184 | 92 |
| Pets | $4.4M | $867 | 95 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $8.2M | $1,623 | 79 |
| Vehicle insurance | $11M | $2,177 | 111 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $12.9M | $2,557 | 85 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $6M | $1,191 | 84 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $83.5M | $16,572 | 99 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Custer County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 12,034+1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 5,038
- Median age
- 43.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 70%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.2
- Land area
- 3,783 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 3
- Median household income
- $70,605+33.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $85,295
- Median home value
- $219,100
- Jobs located here
- 5,790
- Daytime population
- 11,387Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Custer County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Custer County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Montana 8
- Prairie County, MT1,250 people
- Rosebud County, MT8,165 people
- Powder River County, MT1,815 people
- Treasure County, MT732 people
- Fallon County, MT2,760 people
- Dawson County, MT8,827 people
- Carter County, MT1,308 people
- McCone County, MT1,670 people
Questions
How fast is Custer County, MT growing?
Population estimates put Custer County at 12,034 people in 2025, up 1.5% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 5,038 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 33.3%, before inflation.
How much do households in Custer County, MT spend?
Households in Custer County spend about $83.5M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $28.7M on groceries and $17.9M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Custer County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 122, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on clothing, shoes and related services (79).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Custer County, MT?
Of the business types scored in Custer County, pet businesses (67), gyms and studios (64) and real estate businesses (59) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For pet businesses, that ranks #391 of 2,200 scored counties.
How does Custer County, MT compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Custer County is $70,605, 13% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $219,100, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for insurance agencies (2.2 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for salons, barbers and spas (20% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 23 of the 56 business types have a score in Custer County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Custer County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Custer County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Custer County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.