Custer County, Nebraska: commercial real estate data.
Custer County, Nebraska had an estimated 10,487 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.5 percent since the 2020 census base of 10,540, across 2,576 square miles. County output reached $882.3 m in 2024, 370 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 10 7(a) approvals worth $2.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Custer County
How many people live in Custer County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202410,518
- Households4,502
- Average household size2.34
- Median household income$67,906
- Median age42.1
- Median gross rent$853 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$157,800
- Home value to household income2.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher24.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over7,246
- Population under 182,559
- Share under 1824.3 percent
- Population 65 and over2,372
- Share 65 and over22.6 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 645,587
- Civilian labor force5,362
- Unemployment rate2.6 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over67.4 percent
- Rank by population among Nebraska counties25th of 93
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2452nd of 3,222
Custer County is the 25th largest of 93 Nebraska counties by population. A median home costs 2.3 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.3 percent against 22.6 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Custer County
Is Custer County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202410,487
- Census 2020 base population10,540
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.50 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-125
- Births, 2024149
- Deaths, 2024129
- Natural change, 202420
- Net domestic migration, 2024-148
- Net international migration, 20243
- Total net migration, 2024-145
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-23
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2018th of 3,144
The county has lost 0.50 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. More people left than moved in during 2024 and births over deaths did not make up the difference, so the population fell.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Custer County
Where are people moving to Custer County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving210
- People arriving, from those returns360
- Tax returns filed by households leaving176
- Net household movement34
- Adjusted gross income arriving$9.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$966,000
- Average income of an arriving household$45,971
- Average income of a leaving household$49,364
- Largest single originBuffalo County (32 households)
- Largest single destinationBuffalo County (21 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo County | 32 | 45 | $1.7 m |
Households arriving report $3,393 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Buffalo County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Custer County
What is the Custer County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$882.3 m
- County GDP, 2023$966.2 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 2024-8.7 percent
- GDP change over five years21.5 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Nebraska areas BEA publishes28th of 93
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1947th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$83,881
Output grew -8.7 percent in the latest year and 21.5 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Custer County
Employment by industry in Custer County
- Covered employment, annual average4,537
- Establishments reporting488
- Average annual pay$49,959
- Average weekly wage$961
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, employment640
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, average annual pay$57,542
- Health care and social assistance, employment543
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$46,874
- Retail trade, employment541
- Retail trade, average annual pay$30,236
- Accommodation and food services, employment355
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$17,708
- Finance and insurance, employment186
- Wholesale trade, employment185
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 640 | 71 | $57,542 |
| Health care and social assistance | 543 | 44 | $46,874 |
| Retail trade | 541 | 58 | $30,236 |
| Accommodation and food services | 355 | 31 | $17,708 |
| Finance and insurance | 186 | 35 | $69,839 |
| Wholesale trade | 185 | 24 | $55,436 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 106 | 32 | $53,234 |
| Other services, except public administration | 81 | 24 | $45,867 |
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting is the largest private sector at 640 jobs, 14.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Custer County
How many businesses are in Custer County?
- Establishments, all industries370
- Employment at those establishments3,119
- Annual payroll$139.5 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents35.2
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Custer County
Building permits in Custer County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202429
- Declared construction value permitted$8.5 m
- Single family units authorized21
- Multifamily units authorized8
- Multifamily share of units27.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$294,369
- Units authorized per 1,000 households6.4
Single-family homes are 72.4 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Custer County
SBA loans in Custer County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded10
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$2.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$239,990
- Median 7(a) approval$164,950
- Largest single approval$700,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)32
- Jobs per approval3.2
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active2
- Distinct industries receiving approvals9
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer30.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms3
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter7
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals10.0 percent
- Most active lenderCuster Federal State Bank (8)
- 504 approvals recorded1
- 504 gross approval dollars$117,000
- Average 504 approval$117,000
- Median 504 approval$117,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval0.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved0.0
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$2.5 m
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Custer County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Custer County
Do SBA loans in Custer County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded4
- Paid in full4
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full4
- Status: Exempt from disclosure6
Only 4 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Custer County
SBA lending by place in Custer County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Broken Bow, approvals6
- Westerville, approvals1
- Merna, approvals1
- Anselmo, approvals1
- Sargent, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Broken Bow | 6 | $1,658,000 |
| Westerville | 1 | $327,000 |
| Merna | 1 | $220,000 |
| Anselmo | 1 | $149,900 |
| Sargent | 1 | $45,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Custer County
How large is Custer County?
- Land area2,576 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Nebraska counties2nd of 93
- Width, east to west54.3 mi
- Height, north to south47.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary9
- Residents per square mile of land4
- Establishments per square mile0.14
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Custer County
Flood risk in Custer County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Custer County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 310428
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book7
- Of those, participating in the NFIP6
- NFIP participation rate85.7 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Custer County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Custer County (community 310428), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Custer County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 85.7 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Custer County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Custer County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202410,518
- Households4,502
- Average household size2.34
- Median household income$67,906
- Median age42.1
Common questions
Custer County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Custer County, Nebraska?
The Census Bureau estimates 10,487 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 10,518, in 4,502 households, ranking 25th of 93 Nebraska counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Custer County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.50 percent since the 2020 census base of 10,540, to 10,487 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 149 births against 129 deaths, with net migration of -145. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Custer County?
$67,906. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $157,800, which is 2.3 times income, and median gross rent is $853 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Custer County?
370 establishments, employing 3,119 people with an annual payroll of $139.5 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Custer County?
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting is the largest private sector at 640 jobs, 14.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 4,537 jobs at an average annual pay of $49,959, or $961 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Custer County?
10 7(a) approvals totaling $2.4 m since FY2020, across 2 lenders, with a median approval of $164,950, plus 1 504 approvals worth $117,000 since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Custer County?
29 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $8.5 m. Multifamily was 27.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Custer County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Custer County come from?
The largest single origin is Buffalo County, with 32 households. Arriving households report an average income of $45,971 against $49,364 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Custer County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Custer County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Custer County
Cities and places in Custer.
12 Census places lie wholly or partly in Custer County. All 12 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broken Bow | city | 3,502 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Arnold | village | 945 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ansley | village | 563 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Callaway | village | 562 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sargent | city | 534 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Merna | village | 383 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Mason City | village | 189 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Oconto | village | 167 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Anselmo | village | 93 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Comstock | village | 80 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Berwyn | village | 51 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Westerville | CDP | 19 | 1 | Wholly in this county |