Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Custer, South Dakota
A $230,000 home here costs
$1,970per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $84,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,254. The real number is $717 higher every month, 57% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Custer County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Custer from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,148 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Custer County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Custer against Custer County and South Dakota
| Measure | Custer | Custer County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $229,500 | $327,200 |
| Median property tax | $2,406 | $2,549 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.048% | 0.779% |
| Median gross rent | $926 | $1,117 |
| Population | 2,148 | 8,686 |
The weather behind that power bill
Custer sits in Custer County, which averages a high of 79.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 15.0°F in its coldest, with 19.75" of precipitation a year and 48% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 210 cooling and 8,152 heating degree days, which is what sets the $151 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Custer County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Custer County
No other places of this size are published in Custer County.
Full Custer County cost breakdown · Every county in South Dakota
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Custer averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Custer every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Custer I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Custer?
A $230,000 home in Custer, South Dakota costs approximately $1,970 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,254 principal and interest, $201 property tax, $105 homeowners insurance, $219 utilities and $192 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Custer?
Custer has an effective property tax rate of 1.048%, based on a median home value of $229,500 and median real estate taxes of $2,406. That is higher than the Custer County average of 0.779%.
What is the average home price in Custer?
The median owner-occupied home value in Custer, South Dakota is $229,500, against $327,200 across Custer County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Custer?
Median gross rent in Custer is $926 a month, against $1,970 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Custer?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Custer, South Dakota at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $84,500 a year. That covers the full $1,970 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Custer, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for South Dakota.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.