Custer County Demographics

A map of Custer County's Population by Race

Custer County, Montana has an estimated population of 11,961, a less than 1% change from the 11,867 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 89.0% White, 5.1% Multiracial, 3.4% Hispanic, 2.0% Native American/Other, 0.5% Asian, and 0.0% Black. This demographic dot map shows the population of Custer County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Custer has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Montana overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Custer County, that probability was 18.4% in 2020 and 20.3% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Custer County is ranked the 17th most populous county in Montana, out of 56 counties. Custer County was ranked the 17th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Custer County's White Population

10,648 residents of Custer County, or 89.0% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Custer County is higher than in Montana overall, where 83.6% of the population is White. Custer County ranks 25th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 56 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Custer County's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Custer County's population has decreased from 90.2% to 89.0%.

Custer County is more White than neighboring Prairie County (88.1% White), and Rosebud County (51.4% White). Custer County is less White than neighboring Powder River County (89.2% White), Fallon County (92.2% White), and Dawson County (90.4% White).

Custer County's Black Population

4 residents of Custer County, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Custer County is comparable to the share in Montana overall, where 0.4% of the population is Black. Custer County ranks 8th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 56 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Custer County's Black population has declined by an estimated 94.4%. Black residents' share of Custer County's population has decreased from 0.6% to 0.0%.

Custer County is less Black than neighboring Rosebud County (0.1% Black), and Dawson County (0.2% Black).

Custer County's Asian Population

54 residents of Custer County, or 0.5% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Custer County is comparable to the share in Montana overall, where 0.8% of the population is Asian. Custer County ranks 21st statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 56 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Custer County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 3.8%. Asian residents' share of Custer County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.5%.

Custer County is more Asian than neighboring Fallon County (0% Asian), and Dawson County (0.2% Asian). Custer County is less Asian than neighboring Prairie County (2.7% Asian), Powder River County (0.9% Asian), and Rosebud County (2% Asian).

Custer County's Hispanic Population

409 residents of Custer County, or 3.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Custer County is comparable to the share in Montana overall, where 4.6% of the population is Hispanic. Custer County ranks 21st statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 56 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Custer County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 13.0%. Hispanic residents' share of Custer County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.4%.

Custer County is more Hispanic than neighboring Prairie County (0.6% Hispanic), Powder River County (1.4% Hispanic), and Fallon County (0.1% Hispanic). Custer County is less Hispanic than neighboring Rosebud County (3.7% Hispanic), and Dawson County (3.6% Hispanic).

Custer County's Native American/Other Population

238 residents of Custer County, or 2.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Custer County is slightly lower than in Montana overall, where 5.9% of the population is Native American/Other. Custer County ranks 31st statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 56 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Custer County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 12.3%. Native American/Other residents' share of Custer County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.0%.

Custer County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Prairie County (4.4% Native American/Other), Powder River County (3% Native American/Other), Fallon County (2.2% Native American/Other), Rosebud County (38% Native American/Other), and Dawson County (2.1% Native American/Other).

Custer County's Multiracial Population

608 residents of Custer County, or 5.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Custer County is comparable to the share in Montana overall, where 4.7% of the population is Multiracial. Custer County ranks 36th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 56 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Custer County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 29.6%. Multiracial residents' share of Custer County's population has increased from 4.0% to 5.1%.

Custer County is more Multiracial than neighboring Prairie County (4.2% Multiracial), Rosebud County (4.8% Multiracial), and Dawson County (3.4% Multiracial). Custer County is less Multiracial than neighboring Powder River County (5.5% Multiracial), and Fallon County (5.4% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.