Custer, SD health
Custer differs from South Dakota on 17 of 40 measures. It has fewer binge drinkers (15.3% vs 18.8%) and more adults treating high blood pressure (81.3% vs 75.9%). Where it trails the state: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (26.8% vs 12.7%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · ZIP codes 57645, 57634Custer’s Health Grade: B+
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Custer is healthier than 71% of U.S. towns and 53% of South Dakota towns.
About what its income would suggest. Custer does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in South Dakota ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Custer with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Custer’s figures come from the ZIP codes that cover it, weighted by land area. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
How Custer compares with South Dakota
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Chronic conditions
Habits
Care & screenings
Mind & connection
Everyday needs
Disability
Out of every 100 Custer adults…
Bars show Custer; the black tick is South Dakota. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
SD 24.1%
SD 29.7%
SD 18.8%
SD 15.2%
Keeping up with care
Share of Custer adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Dakota.
How Custer adults are doing
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
12.3% of Custer adults receive SNAP (food stamps).
Living with a disability
of Custer adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Black tick: South Dakota. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Care in and near Custer
No hospital or community health center in Custer itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Custer. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Custer
| Measure | Custer | Margin | South Dakota | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 44.7% | 41.3–48% | 33.3% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 40.6% | 37.1–44% | 34% | worse |
| Obesity | 41.3% | 35.3–47.3% | 35.9% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 35.8% | 32.9–38.6% | 25.8% | worse |
| Depression | 22.1% | 19.4–25% | 21.2% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 26.8% | 23.5–30.3% | 12.7% | worse |
| Asthma | 10.9% | 9.8–12.1% | 10.1% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 11% | 10.1–12% | 9.2% | worse |
| Diabetes | 18.8% | 16.8–20.9% | 11.7% | worse |
| COPD | 13.5% | 11.6–15.4% | 6.7% | worse |
| Heart disease | 12.4% | 11.1–13.7% | 6.8% | worse |
| Stroke | 6.2% | 5.5–6.9% | 3.5% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 23.3% | 20–26.7% | 15.2% | worse |
| Binge drink | 15.3% | 13.2–17.7% | 18.8% | better |
| Get no exercise | 35% | 30.4–39.5% | 24.1% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.2% | 27.2–35.3% | 29.7% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 77.5% | 74.6–80.2% | 76.5% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 57.1% | 54.3–60% | 69.2% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 82.8% | 80.7–84.8% | 84.8% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 64.1% | 60.3–67.8% | 65.5% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 76.2% | 69.8–81.4% | 76.6% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 81.3% | 79.2–83.2% | 75.9% | better |
| No health insurance | 12.3% | 9.8–15.3% | 8.8% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 28.8% | 24.6–33% | — | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 22.3% | 19.2–25.7% | — | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 16.6% | 14.9–18.4% | 15.3% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 28.2% | 24.7–31.7% | 17.3% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 18.1% | 16.1–20.2% | 12.3% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 17.1% | 14–20.4% | — | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 10.7% | 8.8–12.7% | — | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 7.6% | 6.4–8.9% | — | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 9.6% | 8.2–11.1% | — | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 12.3% | 9.6–15.3% | — | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.2% | 37–45.5% | 30.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 22.3% | 19.5–25.1% | 12.9% | |
| Thinking or memory | 17.5% | 15.4–19.8% | 13.7% | |
| Hearing | 13.7% | 12.4–15.1% | 8.2% | |
| Vision | 8.8% | 7.7–9.9% | 4.7% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 6.8% | 5.9–7.7% | 3.5% | |
| Errands alone | 12.4% | 10.8–14% | 7.8% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The South Dakota figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.