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Garretson vs Custer

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

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

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

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 →

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 →

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%

Garretson$1,730/mo

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

Custer$2,890/mo

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

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

Health

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

GarretsonCuster

Snow a year45″58″

January low9°F 16°F

July high85°F 80°F

Growing season (days)157d 129d

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

Outdoors & history

GarretsonCuster

Trails0 mi 5 mi

Conserved land0%3%

Settled1891 1875

National Register places4 7

Archive photos6 12

Community

GarretsonCuster

Library hours a week13 hrs 33 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.

GarretsonSD CusterSD

Garretson ↔ Custer354 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

GarretsonCuster

People

Population 1,176Lowest 2,341Highest

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

Median age 48.5±8Lowest 28% above SD 51.2±10.5Highest 35% 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 21%±7.3Highest SD: 24.2% 13.4%±3.5Lowest 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+ 23.6%±4.5Lowest SD: 18% 34.7%±4.4Highest SD: 18%

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

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2%±1.1Lowest SD: 5% 3.4%±2.8Highest 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 $59,741±$11kLowest 20% below SD $78,369±$11kHighest 4% above 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 $203,800±$30kLowest 21% below SD $235,600±$40kHighest 8% 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 $697±$43Lowest 26% below SD $968±$159Highest about the SD average

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

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 27%±5.8Lowest SD: 39.8% 31.2%±10.1Highest 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 5.3%Lowest SD: 11.9% 14.2%Highest SD: 11.9%

Housing

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

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

Getting to work

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

Work from home 8.5%±3.7Highest SD: 9.7% 8.1%±5.3Lowest 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 4.5%Lowest 34.1%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 16.8 miLowest 21.8 miHighest

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

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

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in CusterFew work in Garretson

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 3%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 0.2 miLowest 4.6 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 1.8 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Lowest 4Highest

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

Schools

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

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

Students per teacherat that high school 11.8Lowest 13.7Highest

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.

Garretson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Garretson’s Town Square.

Custer neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Custer’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Towns like Garretson

Corsica699 people · $163K homes

Redfield1,989 people · $120K homes

Miller1,363 people · $155K homes

Alcester989 people · $126K homes

Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks South Dakota towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

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.