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Custer vs Garretson

354 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (23× in Custer) and work in town (+29.6 pts in Custer).

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Custer, SDHomes around $474KSouth Dakota · 2,341 people

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Garretson, SDKnown for its schoolsSouth Dakota · 1,176 people

Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

CusterHomes around $474K

Housing$474K typical home47% above the SD typical home

HistorySettled in 18757 places on the National Register HealthHealthier than 72%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Custer →

GarretsonKnown for its schools

SchoolsBetter than 27%of SD districts HealthHealthier than 72%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates

HistorySettled in 18914 places on the National Register All about Garretson →

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Custer has more miles of trail

Custer 4.6 miGarretson 0.2 mi

Work in town+29.6 pts

More of Custer’s workers stay in town

Custer 34.1%Garretson 4.5%

Jobs per worker2.8×

Custer is more of a job hub

Custer 1.33Garretson 0.47

Rent runs higher in Custer

Custer $968Garretson $697

Growth since 2010+12.5 pts

Garretson has grown faster since 2010

Garretson +5.3%Custer -7.2%

Custer has the more walkable street grid

Custer 74.2Garretson 37.7

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,160 more a month in Custer

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Custer$2,890/mo

Typical home $474K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.03% · or rent about $968/mo · Housing →

Garretson$1,730/mo

Typical home $277K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.21% · or rent about $697/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,160 a month, about $14,000 a year, between Custer and Garretson.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every South Dakota ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools

BCusterBetter than 55% of districts in the state CGarretsonBetter than 27% of districts in the state

Health

B+CusterHealthier than 72% of U.S. towns B+GarretsonHealthier than 72% of U.S. towns

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

CusterGarretson

Snow a year58″45″

January low16°F 9°F

July high80°F 85°F

Growing season (days)129d 157d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)72nd 32nd

Outdoors & history

CusterGarretson

Trails5 mi 0 mi

Conserved land3%0%

Settled1875 1891

National Register places7 4

Archive photos12 6

Community

CusterGarretson

Library hours a week33 hrs 13 hrs

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

354 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

CusterSD GarretsonSD

Custer ↔ Garretson354 miles apart

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs South Dakota average

CusterGarretson

People

Population 2,341Highest 1,176Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -7.2%Lowest SD: +8.9% +5.3%Highest SD: +8.9%

Median age 51.2±10.5Highest 35% above SD 48.5±8Lowest 28% above SD

Custer and Garretson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 13.4%±3.5Lowest SD: 24.2% 21%±7.3Highest SD: 24.2%

Garretson and Custer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 34.7%±4.4Highest SD: 18% 23.6%±4.5Lowest SD: 18%

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 26.1%Lowest SD: 31.9% 28.2%Highest SD: 31.9%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.4%±2.8Highest SD: 5% 2%±1.1Lowest SD: 5%

Custer and Garretson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $78,369±$11kHighest 4% above SD $59,741±$11kLowest 20% below SD

Custer and Garretson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $235,600±$40kHighest 8% below SD $203,800±$30kLowest 21% below SD

Custer and Garretson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $968±$159Highest about the SD average $697±$43Lowest 26% below SD

Property taxmedian, yearly $2,430Lowest 11% below SD $2,471Highest 9% below SD

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 31.2%±10.1Highest SD: 39.8% 27%±5.8Lowest SD: 39.8%

Custer and Garretson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 14.2%Highest SD: 11.9% 5.3%Lowest SD: 11.9%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 69.5%Highest SD: 68.6% 62.7%Lowest SD: 68.6%

Typical home builtmedian year 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than SD 1973Highest 7 yrs older than SD

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 19 minLowest 5% above SD 26 minHighest 46% above SD

Work from home 8.1%±5.3Lowest SD: 9.7% 8.5%±3.7Highest SD: 9.7%

Garretson and Custer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 34.1%Highest 4.5%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 21.8 miHighest 16.8 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.33Highest 0.47Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Rapid City (21%)Sioux Falls (56%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in GarretsonFew work in Custer

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 3%Highest 0%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 4.6 miHighest 0.2 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.8 miHighest 0.1 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 4Highest 2Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 74.2Highest 37.7Lowest

Schools

School district Custer School District 16-1Garretson School District 49-4

High school in town Custer High School - 01Garretson High School - 01

Students per teacherat that high school 13.7Highest 11.8Lowest

South Dakota average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Custer neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Custer’s Town Square.

Garretson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Garretson’s Town Square.

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Towns like Custer

Milbank3,525 people · $155K homes

Lead3,006 people · $189K homes

Lincoln Township1,598 people · $243K homes

Chamberlain2,588 people · $224K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.