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Compare towns

Redfield vs Custer

262 miles apart. The biggest differences: home values (2× in Custer) and trails (4.6× in Custer).

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Redfield, SDKnown for its schoolsSouth Dakota · 1,989 people
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Custer, SDHomes around $474KSouth Dakota · 2,341 people
Swap order
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.

RedfieldKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 9%of SD districts Housing$167K typical home48% below the SD typical home HistorySettled in 18806 places on the National Register All about Redfield →
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.

Home values2×
Homes cost more in Custer
Custer $235,600Redfield $120,200
Trails4.6×
Custer has more miles of trail
Custer 4.6 miRedfield 1.0 mi
Household income+35%
Households in Custer earn more
Custer $78,369Redfield $58,229
Homeowners+13 pts renters
Redfield has more renters
Custer 69.5%Redfield 56.5%
Average commute5 min
Redfield has the shorter commute
Custer 19 minRedfield 14 min
Property tax bill+18%
Tax bills are bigger in Custer
Custer $2,430Redfield $2,064
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,780 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.

Redfield$1,120/mo
Typical home $167K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.72% · or rent about $725/mo · Housing →
Custer$2,890/mo
Typical home $474K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.03% · or rent about $968/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,780 a month, about $21,300 a year, between Custer and Redfield.

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
DRedfieldBetter than 9% of districts in the state BCusterBetter than 55% of districts in the state
Health
B−RedfieldHealthier than 53% 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
RedfieldCuster
Snow a year43″58″
January low1°F16°F
July high84°F80°F
Growing season (days)137d129d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)39th72nd
Outdoors & history
RedfieldCuster
Trails1 mi5 mi
Conserved land0%3%
Settled18801875
National Register places67
Archive photos1112
Famous people born here13—
Community
RedfieldCuster
Library hours a week39 hrs33 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

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

262 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

RedfieldSDCusterSD
Redfield ↔ Custer262 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.

RedfieldCuster
People
Population 1,989Lowest 2,341Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -5.1%Highest SD: +8.9% -7.2%Lowest SD: +8.9%
Median age 49±6.2Lowest 29% above SD 51.2±10.5Highest 35% above SD
Custer and Redfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 19.2%±3.7Highest SD: 24.2% 13.4%±3.5Lowest SD: 24.2%
Redfield and Custer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 28.6%±4.6Lowest SD: 18% 34.7%±4.4Highest SD: 18%
Custer and Redfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 30.6%Highest SD: 31.9% 26.1%Lowest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.1%±2.2Highest SD: 5% 3.4%±2.8Lowest SD: 5%
Redfield and Custer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $58,229±$7kLowest 22% below SD $78,369±$11kHighest 4% above SD
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $120,200±$23kLowest 53% below SD $235,600±$40kHighest 8% below SD
Rentmedian gross, monthly $725±$91Lowest 23% below SD $968±$159Highest about the SD average
Custer and Redfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,064Lowest 24% below SD $2,430Highest 11% below SD
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 31.8%±9Highest SD: 39.8% 31.2%±10.1Lowest SD: 39.8%
Redfield and Custer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 6%Lowest SD: 11.9% 14.2%Highest SD: 11.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 56.5%Lowest SD: 68.6% 69.5%Highest SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than SD 1971Highest 9 yrs older than SD
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 14 minLowest 24% below SD 19 minHighest 5% above SD
Work from home 2.7%±1.8Lowest SD: 9.7% 8.1%±5.3Highest SD: 9.7%
Custer and Redfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 41.8%Highest 34.1%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 1.3 miLowest 21.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.92Lowest 1.33Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Redfield Township (16%)Rapid City (21%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in CusterFew work in Redfield
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 3%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 1.0 miLowest 4.6 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.5 miLowest 1.8 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 4Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 83.4Highest 74.2Lowest
Schools
School district Redfield School District 56-4Custer School District 16-1
High school in town Redfield High School - 01Custer High School - 01
Students per teacherat that high school 10.8Lowest 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.

Redfield neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Redfield’s Town Square.

Custer neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Custer’s Town Square.

Add a town

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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.

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