The typical owner-occupied home in Custer is worth about $137,500, 63% below the Montana median of $375,800 and 59% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,354 a year in property taxes, about 0.98% of their home's value, higher than the Montana rate of 0.72%. The median household earns $82,500 a year, so the median home costs 1.7 times the median income (5.2 times for Montana). 78% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 39% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Custer at a glance
| Custer | Montana | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $137,500 | $375,800 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $1,354 | $2,693 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.98% | 0.72% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $82,500 | $72,509 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 78% | 69% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 39% | 55% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $990 | $1,798 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 14.2% | 21.9% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $425 | $1,081 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 12.8% | 27.8% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1955 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 21.1% | 13.2% | 10.1% |
| Population | 199 | 1,116,875 | 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 $137,500 with 20% down costs about $910 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,139, 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 $38,981 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 13% of the median Custer household income of $82,500; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $291,000.
The median rent here is $425 a month, so owning the median home costs about $485 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $27,500 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $110,000 |
| Principal and interest | $740 |
| Property taxes (0.98% a year) | $112 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $57 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $910 |
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| Down payment | $4,812 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $135,010 |
| Principal and interest | $908 |
| Property taxes (0.98% a year) | $112 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $57 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $61 |
| Total per month | $1,139 |
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Questions about home buying in Custer
What is the median home value in Custer?
About $137,500 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 $1,354 a year, which is about 0.98% 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 $910 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $38,981 a year.
More about Custer
- Mortgage Refinance in Custer
- Debt Relief in Custer
- Home Equity Loans in Custer
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
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