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Buying a home in Custer, Michigan

The typical owner-occupied home in Custer is worth about $131,300, 43% below the Michigan median of $231,600 and 61% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,310 a year in property taxes, about 1.00% of their home's value, lower than the Michigan rate of 1.25%. The median household earns $63,125 a year, so the median home costs 2.1 times the median income (3.2 times for Michigan). 85% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 62% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Custer at a glance

Custer Michigan U.S.
Median home value $131,300 $231,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,310 $2,904 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.00% 1.25% 0.94%
Median household income $63,125 $72,875 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 85% 73% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 62% 58% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $990 $1,569 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 16.3% 19.3% 21.0%
Median rent $769 $1,129 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 30.5% 30.2% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1957 1972 1980
Vacant homes 15.8% 11.8% 10.1%
Population 275 10,077,761 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Custer

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Custer home of $131,300 with 20% down costs about $871 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,089, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $37,317 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 17% of the median Custer household income of $63,125; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $222,000.

The median rent here is $769 a month, so owning the median home costs about $102 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$26,260
Loan amount$105,040
Principal and interest$707
Property taxes (1.00% a year)$109
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$55
PMI$0
Total per month$871

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$4,596
Loan amount$128,922
Principal and interest$867
Property taxes (1.00% a year)$109
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$55
FHA mortgage insurance$58
Total per month$1,089

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Questions about home buying in Custer

What is the median home value in Custer?

About $131,300 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Custer?

Homeowners pay a median $1,310 a year, which is about 1.00% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Custer?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $871 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $37,317 a year.

More about Custer

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data