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County in Montana

Custer County, Montana

Custer County is a county in Montana with 11,961 residents, No. 17 of 56 by population. In Custer County, the FHA loan limit for a one-unit home is $541,287, and a typical home is worth $219,100. To rent a 2-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent ($1,612 a month) without going over 30% of your income, you need to earn about $31.00 an hour.

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  • Typical home price

    $219,100

    −42% vs. Montana −34% vs. U.S.

    Half of owner-occupied homes are worth more and half are worth less.

    • Custer
    • Montana
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

  • Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms

    $1,612 a month

    +5% vs. Montana −8% vs. U.S.

    HUD's reference rent for a two-bedroom apartment, with basic utilities.

    • Custer
    • Montana
    • United States

    Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

  • FHA limit 2026, 1 unit

    $541,287

    FHA national floor limit

    The most you can borrow with an FHA loan for a one-unit home here.

    • Custer
    • Floor
    • Ceiling

    Source: HUD, 2026 data

  • Property tax

    1.03% of value per year

    +43% vs. Montana +10% vs. U.S.

    $2,264 a year for the typical owner

    • Custer
    • Montana
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$247,629
8.8% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Data from October 2026

In short

What is housing like in Custer County today?

With an FHA loan and the minimum down payment, a typical home would cost about $1,834 a month: 31% of the typical household income here. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $78,584 a year; the typical income here is $70,605. The typical home value is 42% less than in Montana overall. The typical property tax is $2,264 a year (about 1.03% of home value), lower than in Montana.

39% of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on housing, less than in Montana (45%).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

Only here

What sets Custer County apart

  1. 51% of homes in Custer County (3,018) are in FEMA's high-risk flood zone, and only 22% of those carry NFIP flood insurance.

  2. Custer County has the highest typical rent in its area: $893, more than any of its 6 neighboring counties; next is Carter County ($824).

  3. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Custer County rose 8.8%; in Montana, it rose 2%.

  4. Nearby, in Prairie County, the typical home value is $165,700: 24% less than in Custer County ($219,100).

  5. From 2020 to 2025, home prices in Custer County rose 50% on FHFA's index, slower than in Montana (62%).

Sources: FEMA (As of August 3, 2026); U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data); FHFA (2025 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Custer County

What homes there are in Custer County, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Custer County, 7 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses, about the same as in Montana.

Year built

In Custer County, 61% of homes have 3 bedrooms or more, about the same as in Montana.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 92% of owner-occupied homes in Custer County are worth less than the FHA loan limit for this county ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,557 a month

Montana: $1,798 a month

Without a mortgage

$607 a month

Montana: $571 a month

Owners with a mortgage

44%

Montana: 55%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Custer County is $1,557 a month, less than in Montana ($1,798); without one, $607.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Custer County rose 29%; in Montana, it rose 63%.

The typical rent in Custer County rose 18% over the same time; in Montana, it rose 34%.

Income in Custer County grew faster than housing: it rose 33%, while home values changed +29% and rent +18%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureCuster CountyMontanaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate5.3%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.9%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.8%3.4%
People per household 2.282.372.53
Drive alone 71%71%69%
Carpool 17%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 6%5%3%
Work from home 5%13%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Montana, a household in Custer County has 2.28 people on average.

In Custer County, 17% of workers share a car to get to work; in Montana, 10%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month in Custer County?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home of $219,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 31% of the typical household income here, which is $70,605 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $78,584 a year.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Custer County. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $7,669 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,834

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$215,131
Total interest
$309,523
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,700 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,647 a month

  • Tight

    $1,647 to $2,118 a month

    Your payment · 31%

  • Hard

    more than $2,118 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Custer County ($70,605 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,834
Principal & interest$1,457
Property tax$188
Home insurance$91
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$97

You need at least $7,669 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

Buying a home

Buying a home in Custer County

Here you'll see how prices have changed, how Custer County compares with Montana and the country, and what you'd pay each month with four kinds of loans.

How have home prices changed?

According to the FHFA House Price Index, home prices in Custer County rose 66% in the 10 years through 2025. FHFA's index follows the price of the same homes over the years.

Period Here Montana United States
In 2025 +0.9% +2.3% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +50% +62% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +66% +105% +85%
See each year's change

The index follows the prices of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals on loans bought or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Custer County compared with Montana and the United States

Home value, rent and household income, side by side. "Typical" is the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Custer $219,100
  • Montana $375,800
  • United States $332,700
Typical rent a month
  • Custer $893
  • Montana $1,081
  • United States $1,413
Typical household income a year
  • Custer $70,605
  • Montana $72,509
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Custer compared with Montana and the United States
MeasureHereMontanaU.S.
Residents11,9611,116,875334,922,499
Typical home value$219,100$375,800$332,700
Typical household income$70,605$72,509$80,734
Typical rent$893$1,081$1,413
Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms)$1,612$1,529$1,750
Hourly wage to rent a 2-bedroom$31.00$29.40$33.65
Typical property tax$2,264$2,693$3,119
Effective tax rate1.03%0.72%0.94%
Households that own their home70%69%65%
Renters spending 30% or more on rent39%45%51%
FHA limit (1 unit)*$541,287$541,287$541,287

FHA limit: Montana shows the median of its counties; the United States, the national floor. Download CSV

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Custer County

For a typical $219,100 home at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, the county's property tax, an example homeowners insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

Loan Monthly payment Down payment Loan amount Rate Mortgage insurance Cash to close Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down $1,834 $7,669 $215,132 7.18% FHA MIP · $97 $14,242 580
Conventional, 5% down $1,793 $10,955 $208,145 7.18% PMI · $104 $17,528 620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,467 $43,820 $175,280 7.18% None $50,393 620*
ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,669 $32,865 $186,235 8.18% None $39,438 Set by the lender
  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Closing costs

Loan limits

FHA loans in Custer County use the national floor limit: it isn't a high-cost area. If the loan you need is above these amounts, it doesn't fit FHA or it becomes a "jumbo" loan.

VA loans. If you have full VA entitlement, VA doesn't cap the loan amount. If you've used part of your entitlement, the calculation uses the county limit ($832,750 for one unit). VA loan limits (va.gov)

USDA loans. They're for homes in eligible rural areas and households with incomes within USDA's limit. Check whether the address and your income qualify on the official site. USDA eligibility (usda.gov)

Home type FHA limit Conforming limit
1 unit $541,287 $832,750
2 units $693,050 $1,066,250
3 units $837,700 $1,288,800
4 units $1,041,125 $1,601,750

Source: HUD, 2026 data · Source: FHFA, 2026 data

Taxes and risks

Property tax and flooding in Custer County

Two costs that change a lot from place to place and that a house payment does include: property tax and, in risk zones, flood insurance.

Property tax

In Custer County, the typical owner pays $2,264 a year: about 1.03% of the home's value. That is more than the rest of Montana and more than the national average.

  • Custer 1.03%
  • Montana 0.72%
  • United States 0.94%

What Montana publishes Homestead reduced tax rate for your principal residence (Montana Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Montana

Is there a flood risk?

According to FEMA, in Custer County 51% of homes (3,018) are in a high-risk flood zone. Of those homes, 22% have NFIP flood insurance.

  • A high-risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area) has a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year. (44 CFR 59.1)
  • If the home is in that zone and the loan comes from a regulated lender, federal law requires flood insurance for the life of the loan, in communities that take part in the NFIP. (42 U.S.C. 4012a)
  • Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. (FEMA, FloodSmart)

Source: FEMA, As of August 3, 2026

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Owning a home here

Owning a home in Custer County

The natural hazards FEMA measures in Custer County, a maintenance plan for your climate and what the trades earn in your area.

Risks to your home

FEMA, National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025)

FEMA rates the natural hazard risk in Custer County as very low.

To rate it, FEMA weighs the expected loss with social vulnerability and community resilience.

In all, FEMA estimates natural hazards cause about $10.3 million in losses a year in Custer County, across buildings, people and crops.

Of all the hazards, FEMA expects inland flooding to do the most damage to buildings: about $3.1 million a year.

Loss FEMA expects each year to homes and buildings, by hazard
  1. Inland floodingRelatively low $3.1 million a year
  2. WildfireRelatively low $528,939 a year
  3. Winter weatherRelatively high $99,658 a year
  4. EarthquakeVery low $53,704 a year
  5. TornadoVery low $53,509 a year

What it means for your home

The ratings are FEMA's own. FEMA says its data is meant for planning and does not replace a local study. Drought is not shown: FEMA counts its loss in crops only.

National Risk Index, version 1.20.0 (December 2025), retrieved November 6, 2026

FEMA notice: This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Climate and upkeep

Department of Energy (PNNL), 2021 IECC zones

Custer County is climate zone 6B in the home energy code (IECC): cold.

The zone's number says how hot or cold it gets; the letter says how humid: A is moist, B is dry and C is marine.

  • Spring

    • Book the air conditioner's check-up before the heat: ENERGY STAR advises checking the cooling system in the spring, because contractors get busy once summer comes. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Clean and repair the roof gutters. EPA

  • Summer

    • Seal the air ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, basement or garage with duct mastic or foil tape, then wrap them in insulation. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Check that the ground slopes away from the house, so water does not collect around the foundation. EPA

  • Fall

    • Book the heating check-up in the fall. If it runs on gas or oil, the technician should check the connections: faulty ones are a fire hazard. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Seal air leaks and add insulation in the attic: ENERGY STAR says it lowers the chance of ice dams on the roof in snowy climates. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Winter

    • Get the house ready for the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping, and learn how to keep pipes from freezing. Ready.gov (FEMA)
    • Put clear plastic film over the windows: it is inexpensive, cuts drafts, helps the house feel warmer in winter and reduces moisture on the glass. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

All year

  • Check the air filter every month, especially in heavy-use months. If it looks dirty, change it; change it at least every 3 months. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
  • Test the smoke alarms every month and replace their batteries at least once a year. USFA (FEMA)

Each task comes from the official page beside it. The spring air-conditioning and fall heating check-ups are the timing ENERGY STAR advises; the rest is a suggested order.

Climate zones by county, 2021 IECC

What the trades charge here

BLS, wages for May 2025

TradeTypical hourly wage8 in 10 earn between
Electricians$37.14$23.57 and $43.11
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters$43.94$28.56 and $60.00
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics$23.01$19.56 and $37.52
Roofers$28.92$23.54 and $35.13
Carpenters$27.96$18.99 and $37.52
Maintenance and repair workers, general$21.85$15.00 and $35.03

In the East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area, half of electricians earn more than $37.14 an hour and half earn less; for a plumber, the typical figure is $43.94.

These are workers' hourly wages, not the price of a job.

BLS publishes no wages for painters in this area.

Need help paying for a repair?

Renting

Renting in Custer County

The typical rent in Custer County is $893 a month. HUD also publishes a “fair market rent” by unit size: it's the one programs like Section 8 use.

39% of renter households in Custer County spend 30% or more of their income on housing. 23% spend half or more.

Fair market rent by size

To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $1,160 $22.31 $46,400
1 bedroom $1,232 $23.69 $49,280
2 bedrooms $1,612 $31.00 $64,480
3 bedrooms $2,195 $42.21 $87,800
4 bedrooms $2,471 $47.52 $98,840

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Free help in Custer County

Programs and counseling in Custer County

We didn't find counseling agencies near this county.

Official programs for the down payment and loans for buyers. Check which ones you might qualify for with your income and your county.

A father holds his baby and his young son by a white picket fence.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Montana down payment programs

  1. Bond Advantage Down Payment Assistance

    Montana Board of Housing loan for up to 5% of the price (maximum $15,000) for the down payment, over 15 years with low payments and the same rate as the bond program's first mortgage; there is also a Plus version, 0% and deferred, for lower incomes

    The source does not say whether you must be a first-time buyer. Run by Montana Board of Housing (Montana Department of Commerce).

    RepayableDeferred Verified November 5, 2026

  2. Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)

    Montana Board of Housing certificate that lets you take 20% of the interest you pay each year on your mortgage off your federal taxes, up to $2,000 a year, while you live in the home; for first-time buyers, with a loan that is not from another Board program

    First-time buyers only. Run by Montana Board of Housing (Montana Department of Commerce).

    Tax credit Verified November 5, 2026

Which programs do I qualify for? See all Montana programs

Help in Spanish in Custer County

None of the 0 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Public housing agencies

HUD lists no public housing authority based in Custer County. The authority of a nearby county or the state may serve this area.

Free legal help

If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.

Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Housing counseling nearby

We didn't find counseling agencies near this county.

Places

Cities in Custer County

This site has no city pages of Custer County. The neighboring counties are below.

See all 1 cities of Custer County

Nearby counties

Each row compares its typical value, typical rent and FHA limit with Custer County.

Read next

Guides that help here

We picked them by this county's numbers: what weighs most here is what's worth understanding first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FHA loan limit in Custer County in 2026?

Custer County has an FHA limit of $541,287 for a one-unit home. For 2 units it's $693,050, for 3 it's $837,700 and for 4 it's $1,041,125. It's the national floor limit.

What is the conforming loan limit in Custer County?

Custer County has a conforming limit of $832,750 for one-unit conventional loans in 2026. A bigger loan is a “jumbo” loan.

How much does a typical home cost in Custer County?

The typical home value in Custer County is $219,100 (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). Across Montana it's $375,800.

How much does it cost to rent in Custer County?

Custer County has a typical rent of $893 a month (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). HUD's fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,612 (Fiscal year 2027).

How much do you need to earn to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in Custer County?

About $31.00 an hour working full time (2,080 hours a year), or $64,480 a year, so the fair market rent of $1,612 stays under 30% of income.

Sources: American Community Survey (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (Fiscal year 2027); Income Limits (Fiscal year 2026); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (As of August 3, 2026); National Risk Index (2025 data); IECC climate zones by county (2021 data); Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025 data); Census Bureau cartographic boundary files (2024 data).