Custer County, Oklahoma Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Custer County, Oklahoma, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Custer County, Oklahoma. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Custer County, Oklahoma. The estimated population of Custer County, Oklahoma is 28,564 people, with a median age of 32.2.

We can look at the total population in Custer County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
28,564
 -1.26% -2.07%
2020
28,929
 -0.76% -
2019
29,152
 -0.2% -
2018
29,209
+0.14%
-
2017
29,169
 - -

Population of Custer County, Oklahoma by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
67.2%
69.3%
 -3.03%
Black/African American
3.2%
3%
 +6.67%
Native
4.1%
1.7%
 +141.18%
Hispanic
18.8%
17.5%
 +7.43%
Asian
1.2%
1.2%
 0.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0.3%
0.1%
 +200.00%
Two Or More Races
5.3%
7.2%
 -26.39%
Other
0%
0%
 0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Custer County, Oklahoma by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 32.2 +0.94% 32.3 +2.22% 32.1 -0.93%
2020 31.9 +1.59% 31.6 +1.94% 32.4 +1.57%
2019 31.4 +1.29% 31 +0.98% 31.9 +2.24%
2018 31 +0.98% 30.7 +2.68% 31.2 -0.95%
2017 30.7 - 29.9 - 31.5 -

The median age of Custer County, Oklahoma gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 2,340 -15.43% 2,022 +3.89% 1,999 2,075
10 to 19 2,046 -7.55% 2,124 +13.39% 1,894 2,416
20 to 29 2,974 -11.43% 2,788 -12.28% 2,640 2,458
30 to 39 1,765 +9.83% 1,542 +24.64% 1,936 1,955
40 to 49 1,245 +19.42% 1,516 -23.1% 1,499 1,181
50 to 59 1,962 -26.3% 1,507 +5.01% 1,478 1,569
60 to 69 1,246 +5.57% 1,476 -0.25% 1,313 1,472
70+ 1,076 +12.81% 1,540 -4.9% 1,219 1,460

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Custer County, Oklahoma is $55,074.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Custer County.

  • Under 25
    $21,512.00
  • 25 to 44
    $64,111.00
  • 45 to 64
    $64,978.00
  • 65 and over
    $52,275.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Custer County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Custer County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Custer County, Oklahoma is currently $76,795.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

4.71% of households in Custer County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Custer County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    24.07%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    19.66%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    17.78%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    12.20%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    16.52%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    5.06%
  • $200,000 or more
    4.71%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Custer County is $29,940.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Custer County by the total population of Custer County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Custer County, Oklahoma, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Custer County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    12.02%
  • Bachelor's degree
    35.21%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    10.47%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    38.93%
  • Less than high school diploma
    3.37%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Custer County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Custer County over the age of 16 is 22,136.

Of those people, a total of 68.30% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Custer County is 66.30%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 1,956 54.20% 6.10%
20 to 24 years 3,338 85.30% 7.40%
25 to 29 years 1,760 85.00% 0.90%
30 to 34 years 1,657 87.80% 5.50%
35 to 44 years 3,601 84.90% 0.20%
45 to 54 years 2,737 83.30% 0.10%
55 to 59 years 1,623 74.30% 1.20%
60 to 64 years 1,685 57.20% 2.10%
65 to 74 years 2,166 32.00% 0.00%
75 years and over 1,613 4.30% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Custer County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 17,166 66.80% 2.60%
Black or African American 744 67.10% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 964 70.50% 2.10%
Asian 299 64.90% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 984 79.50% 0.80%
Two or more races 1,979 76.40% 6.00%
Hispanic or Latino 3,410 78.70% 3.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 15,794 65.80% 2.90%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Custer County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Custer County is 14,679, with median earnings of $33,216.00.

Women in Custer County, Oklahoma earning approximately 56.10% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 14,679 $33,216.00
Male 7,946 $41,962.00
Female 6,733 $23,524.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 1,467 $50,907.00
Business and Financial 463 $39,583.00
Computer and Mathematical 54 $14,853.00
Architecture and Engineering 187 $62,321.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 123 $59,461.00
Community and Social Service 660 $37,872.00
Legal 53 $81,139.00
Educational and Library 921 $42,153.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 127 $12,292.00
Healthcare Practitioners 774 $48,846.00
Healthcare Support 416 $25,127.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 159 $15,750.00
Law Enforcement 115 $44,083.00
Food Preparation and Serving 690 $7,363.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 515 $23,380.00
Personal Care and Service 631 $10,575.00
Sales 1,727 $26,430.00
Office and Administrative Support 1,783 $19,555.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 170 $9,865.00
Construction and Extraction 866 $43,253.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 488 $55,476.00
Production 906 $52,782.00
Transportation and Material Moving 517 $43,542.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 1,106 $56,780.00 361 $29,825.00
Business and Financial 236 $49,545.00 227 $38,136.00
Computer and Mathematical 34 $49,107.00 20 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 177 $90,804.00 10 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 123 $59,461.00 0 $0.00
Community and Social Service 271 $36,636.00 389 $52,673.00
Legal 47 $0.00 6 $0.00
Educational and Library 258 $56,250.00 663 $38,932.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 41 $24,338.00 86 $11,250.00
Healthcare Practitioners 193 $60,994.00 581 $47,708.00
Healthcare Support 40 $0.00 376 $24,682.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 159 $15,750.00 0 $0.00
Law Enforcement 98 $42,833.00 17 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 237 $12,135.00 453 $6,457.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 329 $14,850.00 186 $26,389.00
Personal Care and Service 162 $10,833.00 469 $8,750.00
Sales 688 $49,758.00 1,039 $15,078.00
Office and Administrative Support 412 $15,688.00 1,371 $20,576.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 141 $8,885.00 29 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 814 $44,144.00 52 $8,438.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 480 $55,714.00 8 $0.00
Production 709 $53,448.00 197 $27,173.00
Transportation and Material Moving 511 $43,958.00 6 $0.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 10,882 households in Custer County, with an average household size of 2.49 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 6,799 families in Custer County with an average family size of 3.1 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 5,148 464 1,187 4,083
Average Household Size 3.21 3.08 2.96 1.37
Total Families 5,148 464 1,187 0
Average Household Size 3.19 2.84 2.81 0

Poverty

Of the 6,799 families in Custer County, 10.70% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Custer County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 12,869 housing units in Custer County, Oklahoma.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 10,882 84.56%
Vacant 1,987 15.44%

26.23% of the total 12,869 housing units in Custer County are rental units. This is approximately 3,376 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 7,235 are occupied by the owner - or 56.22% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Custer County is $708.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Custer County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    271
  • Less than $500
    507
  • $500 to $999
    2,292
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    479
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    97
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    0
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    1

Property Value

The median value of a property in Custer County is $155,900.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Custer County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    708
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    1,594
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    1,093
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    1,577
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    1,312
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    664
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    279
  • $1,000,000 or more
    8

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Custer County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Custer County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    1,086
  • 1940 to 1949
    609
  • 1950 to 1959
    1,132
  • 1960 to 1969
    1,651
  • 1970 to 1979
    2,470
  • 1980 to 1989
    2,571
  • 1990 to 1999
    1,032
  • 2000 to 2009
    1,395
  • 2010 to 2013
    918
  • 2014 or later
    5

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Custer County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    268
  • 1 vehicle available
    3,668
  • 2 vehicles available
    4,105
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    2,841

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Custer County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Custer County that commute to work in a particular way.

18.7 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Custer County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    2,127
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    4,376
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    2,271
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    1,106
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    910
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    509
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    929
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    67
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    100
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    488
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    578
  • 90 or more minutes
    549

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Custer County, Oklahoma in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Custer County, Oklahoma

We have data for 12 places in Custer County, Oklahoma. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.