County FMR · HUD FY2026

Custer County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Custer County, SD - 7% below the US average.

$894
1-bedroom FMR
$1,173
2-bedroom FMR
+12.6%
YoY change
-7%
vs US avg

The verdict

Custer is the 5th most expensive of 66 counties in South Dakota by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,069 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 12.6% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#1,069
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#5
most expensive of 66 in South Dakota (2BR)
+14%
vs the state average
$35,760
income to afford it (30% rule)

General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (39.7%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Custer County, SD. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Custer County, South Dakota at $894 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,173/mo and a studio is $809/mo. This is 7% lower than the national average of $959 and 14% above the South Dakota average of $784.

Rent increased12.6% from FY 2025 ($794), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $35,760/year for a 1-bedroom.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in South Dakota. Population: 8,515. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+1.3%, Census ACS). That's slower than South Dakota's statewide growth of +4.0% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area CUSTER·COUNTY·SD·SD

Custer County, SD: $894/mo 1BR · #1069 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA SD
  • 1BR-FMR $894
  • 2BR-FMR $1,173
  • RANK-MID #1,069
  • YOY-SURGE +12.6%
  • VSUS-NEAR -7%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +14% SD
  • INC-ROOM 13%
  • POP-SMALL 9K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Minnehaha County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $805–$983
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Minnehaha ($92 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $691 · US avg: $893
$809/mo
↑ 13.1% YoY +17% vs state -9% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $784 · US avg: $959
$894/mo
↑ 12.6% YoY +14% vs state -7% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $990 · US avg: $1,175
$1,173/mo
↑ 12.6% YoY +18% vs state -0% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,295 · US avg: $1,525
$1,631/mo
↑ 11.7% YoY +26% vs state +7% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,540 · US avg: $1,756
$1,968/mo
↑ 18.3% YoY +28% vs state +12% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $715
$809
+$94 (+13.1%)
1 Bedroom $794
$894
+$100 (+12.6%)
2 Bedroom $1,042
$1,173
+$131 (+12.6%)
3 Bedroom $1,460
$1,631
+$171 (+11.7%)
4 Bedroom $1,664
$1,968
+$304 (+18.3%)

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Custer County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
11.8%
Affordable
Need $32,360/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
13.1%
Affordable
Need $35,760/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
17.2%
Affordable
Need $46,920/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
23.9%
Affordable
Need $65,240/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
28.8%
Affordable
Need $78,720/yr for 30% rule
How we calculate this

Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.

0%100%National avg22%17.2%
Custer County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $81,958 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View South Dakota rent burden →

Where Custer sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$1,173 Top 34% higher than 66% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). This entry sits in this band. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026

How Custer compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other South Dakota counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Custer is highlighted. Nearby South Dakota counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Pennington County ($1,018), Minnehaha County ($986), Lincoln County ($986), Meade County ($970), Custer County (this county) ($894), Brookings County ($781), Brown County ($708).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $894/mo compares to South Dakota salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation SD Salary Rent Burden Verdict
General & Operations Managers $133,440 8% Affordable
Software Developers $87,770 12.2% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $77,310 13.9% Affordable
Registered Nurses $69,510 15.4% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $60,300 17.8% Affordable
Electricians $58,550 18.3% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $57,300 18.7% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $56,880 18.9% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $49,110 21.8% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $43,760 24.5% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $39,760 27% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $34,260 31.3% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $33,940 31.6% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $29,480 36.4% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $27,020 39.7% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (South Dakota) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Custer County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Custer (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 31.1% overall, from $682 to $894. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.6% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$650$700$750$800$850$900$950 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $894
Custer County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑12.6% $809 $894 $1,173
FY 2025 ↓9.3% $715 $794 $1,042
FY 2024 ↑9.1% $779 $875 $1,150
FY 2023 ↑8.5% $735 $802 $1,056
FY 2022 ↑4.7% $696 $739 $973
FY 2021 ↑3.5% $614 $706 $931
FY 2020 $585 $682 $898
Total change (6yr): +31.1%
Annualized: +4.6%/yr
1 BR: $682 → $894

Part of the Rapid City, SD Metro Area

Custer County is a outlying county of the Rapid City, SD metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.

Custer County ranks #3 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Pennington County ($1,018), Meade County ($970), Custer County (this county) ($894).

Pennington County
1 BR: $1,018/mo
Meade County
1 BR: $970/mo
Custer County (this county)
1 BR: $894/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Custer County, both outside South Dakota so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.

Similar 2-bedroom FMR

Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside SD (FY2026).

Anderson County
SC · 2 BR $1,173/mo
Onslow County
NC · 2 BR $1,173/mo
Bannock County
ID · 2 BR $1,173/mo
Matagorda County
TX · 2 BR $1,173/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside SD).

Ralls County
MO · 17.2% of income · 2 BR $888/mo
Sauk County
WI · 17.2% of income · 2 BR $1,111/mo
Clay County
MN · 17.2% of income · 2 BR $1,112/mo
Phillips County
KS · 17.2% of income · 2 BR $877/mo

Nearby Counties in South Dakota

Largest counties by population in South Dakota

Showing the 8 largest of 65 other counties in South Dakota.

Minnehaha County
1 BR: $986/mo Pop: 197,742
Pennington County
1 BR: $1,018/mo Pop: 110,386
Lincoln County
1 BR: $986/mo Pop: 65,801
Brown County
1 BR: $708/mo Pop: 38,278
Brookings County
1 BR: $781/mo Pop: 34,631
Meade County
1 BR: $970/mo Pop: 29,970
Codington County
1 BR: $825/mo Pop: 28,402
Lawrence County
1 BR: $797/mo Pop: 26,047
View all counties in South Dakota →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Custer County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Custer County is $894 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,173 and a studio is $809.
How does Custer County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Custer County is 7% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $894 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Custer County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Custer County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,173 ranks #1,069 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Custer County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $35,760 ($2,980/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Custer County.
Is rent going up or down in Custer County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Custer County increased by 12.6% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $794 to $894.
Which jobs can afford rent in Custer County? ▼
Based on South Dakota BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like General and Operations Managers, Software Developers, Accountants and Auditors can afford a 1-bedroom at $894/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Custer County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Custer County went from $682 in FY 2020 to $894 in FY 2026, a total change of +31.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Custer County? ▼
In Custer County, the FY 2026 FMR of $894/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Custer County? ▼
For Custer County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($894/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.