Custer County, Montana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 51.6 | 11,985 people · 15th most distressed in Montana
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Custer County, MT registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 51.6 — 1475th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Montana, it ranks 15th of 56 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Custer County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 64.7 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 64.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 40
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 70
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 43
Homeownership Rate 76
Rent-to-Income Ratio 95
Community Vulnerability 63.6
Uninsured Rate 45
Disability Rate 82
Employment & Wages 44.0
Unemployment Rate 19
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 95
Business Formation Rate 18
Income & Poverty 43.4
Poverty Rate 50
Income vs. State Median 53
Child Poverty Rate 27
Debt & Delinquency 42.1
Debt in Collections 39
Medical Debt 58
Student Loan Delinquency 19
Auto Loan Delinquency 65
Credit Card Delinquency 44
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 27

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How Custer County compares to its 6 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Custer County
Custer County, MT 51.6 Elevated —
Rosebud County, MT 57.6 Elevated +6.0
Garfield County, MT 47.8 Normal -3.8
Prairie County, MT 46.5 Normal -5.1
Carter County, MT 42.4 Normal -9.2
Fallon County, MT 31.8 Healthy -19.8
Powder River County, MT 31.6 Healthy -19.9

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Custer County
Alleghany County, VA 51.6 Elevated +0.0
Moore County, TX 51.5 Elevated -0.0
Woodward County, OK 51.5 Elevated -0.1
Todd County, KY 51.5 Elevated -0.1
Alpena County, MI 51.5 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Custer County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Custer County

Find an Attorney

State Bar of Montana Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

State Bar of Montana Lawyer Referral Service 406-442-7660

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Custer County residents at no cost.

Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) 1-800-666-6899

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Montana →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Custer County, Montana?

    Custer County has a County Distress Index score of 51.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,475th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 15th in Montana out of 56 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Custer County?

    The primary driver of distress in Custer County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 64.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Custer County compare to neighboring counties?

    Custer County (51.6) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Rosebud County, MT (57.6); Garfield County, MT (47.8); Prairie County, MT (46.5).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • What is the population of Custer County?

    Custer County, Montana has a population of approximately 11,985 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.