Custer County is located in southeastern Montana, centered on the Yellowstone River and bordering the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation to the south. Created in 1877 and named for Lt. Col. George A. Custer, the county developed as a frontier-era transportation and ranching area, later shaped by rail connections and regional energy production. It is a sparsely populated, rural county with roughly 12,000 residents, making it small in population by state standards. The landscape includes rolling plains, badlands, and river breaks characteristic of eastern Montana, with wide-open rangeland and irrigated valleys near the Yellowstone. The local economy is anchored by cattle ranching, agriculture, government services, and oil and gas activity, along with related support industries. Miles City, the county seat and largest community, serves as the primary commercial and service center and is known regionally for its ranching culture and historic downtown.

Custer County Local Demographic Profile

Custer County is located in southeastern Montana, anchored by the city of Miles City along the Yellowstone River corridor. It serves as a regional hub for surrounding rural communities and transportation routes in eastern Montana.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Custer County, Montana, the county had a population of 11,067 (2020 Census). The same source reports a 2023 population estimate of 11,338.

Age & Gender

Based on the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Custer County, Montana:

  • Median age: 42.5 years
  • Sex (gender) composition: 49.9% female and 50.1% male (a near-even gender ratio)

Detailed county age brackets (e.g., under 18, 18–64, 65+) are not provided in the QuickFacts county summary table in a consistently complete breakout for all requested categories; for the most standardized county age tabulations, use the county’s detailed tables via data.census.gov.

Racial & Ethnic Composition

From the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Custer County, Montana (race categories may include people of Hispanic/Latino origin; Hispanic/Latino is reported separately):

  • White alone: 92.0%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native alone: 3.7%
  • Two or more races: 3.1%
  • Black or African American alone: 0.6%
  • Asian alone: 0.5%
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone: 0.1%
  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 2.1%

Household Data

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Custer County, Montana:

  • Households: 4,645
  • Persons per household: 2.32
  • Owner-occupied housing unit rate: 69.1%

Housing Data

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Custer County, Montana:

  • Housing units: 5,255
  • Median value of owner-occupied housing units: $214,700
  • Median gross rent: $874

For local government and planning resources, visit the Custer County official website.

Email Usage

Custer County, Montana is a large, sparsely populated county where long distances between households and service hubs can constrain fixed-line deployment, shaping reliance on whatever broadband or cellular coverage is available for digital communication.

Direct, county-level email usage statistics are not typically published; email access trends are inferred from proxy indicators such as household internet subscription, computer availability, and age structure reported by the U.S. Census Bureau (data.census.gov).

Digital access indicators

American Community Survey tables on household internet subscription (including broadband types) and computer ownership provide the best local proxies for routine email access; lower subscription or device rates generally correlate with reduced email use.

Age distribution and email adoption

Custer County’s age profile from the ACS matters because older age groups tend to have lower overall adoption of some online services, including email, relative to working-age populations; county age distributions are available via ACS demographic profiles.

Gender distribution

Sex composition is available from ACS profiles, but gender differences are not a primary driver of infrastructure-limited access at the county scale.

Connectivity and infrastructure limitations

Coverage, terrain, and provider buildout constraints are documented in federal broadband availability datasets such as the FCC National Broadband Map, which can highlight unserved/underserved areas affecting consistent email access.

Mobile Phone Usage

Custer County is in southeastern Montana, anchored by the city of Miles City along the Yellowstone River. The county is large in land area, predominantly rural, and characterized by open plains and river valleys with widely spaced settlements and long distances between towns. These characteristics tend to increase the cost and complexity of building dense cellular networks, making coverage quality more variable outside incorporated areas and along less-traveled roads. County population and housing characteristics can be referenced via Census.gov QuickFacts for Custer County, Montana.

Key distinction: network availability vs. adoption

Network availability describes where cellular service (voice/SMS and mobile broadband) is reported to exist and at what technology level (e.g., LTE/4G, 5G). Availability is typically measured via carrier-reported coverage and modeled maps.

Adoption (household uptake) describes whether people actually subscribe to mobile service, rely on mobile for internet access, and which devices they use. Adoption is commonly measured through surveys (e.g., ACS, CPS, NTIA) and is often more reliable at state or national scale than at county scale.

Network availability (coverage) in Custer County

FCC mobile broadband availability data (reported coverage)

The most widely cited public source for U.S. mobile broadband availability is the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC). It provides map-based views of reported mobile broadband coverage by provider and technology generation. County-specific views can be derived using the FCC map interface, but the FCC does not publish a single “penetration” number for mobile at the county level in the same way it does for fixed broadband.

Limitations of availability data: FCC mobile availability is based on carrier submissions and propagation modeling, not continuous field measurement. In rural counties, “coverage” on a map may not reflect consistent indoor service, terrain-driven dead zones, congestion, or performance during peak periods. The FCC map is best used to distinguish broad areas of reported LTE/5G coverage rather than to estimate actual in-home experience.

4G/LTE vs. 5G presence (availability)

  • 4G/LTE: In rural Montana counties, LTE is generally the baseline mobile broadband technology and is typically the most geographically extensive layer of coverage on carrier maps. FCC BDC mobile layers are the most direct public method to verify reported LTE availability at the county level.
  • 5G: Reported 5G availability in rural counties tends to be more concentrated around towns and along major transportation corridors relative to LTE. The FCC map allows filtering by technology generation to identify areas where carriers report 5G coverage in and around Miles City and other populated locations.

Because the FCC map is provider- and location-specific, a single countywide statement such as “Custer County has X% 5G coverage” is not generally published as an official statistic. The FCC map remains the definitive public reference for reported 4G/5G availability.

Montana statewide broadband context (non-county-specific)

For statewide planning and broadband context (including how mobile fits into broader connectivity goals), the Montana broadband office provides program documentation, mapping initiatives, and related resources. This is not a direct measure of Custer County mobile adoption, but it is relevant for understanding statewide infrastructure planning that can affect rural counties:

Adoption and access indicators (what is measurable at county level)

County-level mobile subscription and smartphone ownership measures are not consistently available as official statistics. Most authoritative device-ownership and “mobile-only internet” measures are published at national or state level, with limited county granularity.

Household internet subscriptions (ACS) as a proxy for connectivity choices

The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) provides county-level data on types of internet subscriptions. This can indicate the share of households reporting:

  • cellular data plans (as an internet subscription type),
  • broadband such as cable, fiber, DSL, satellite, or fixed wireless,
  • and households reporting no internet subscription.

These data are not a direct count of mobile phone subscriptions, but they are one of the few consistent county-level indicators of reliance on mobile service for internet access.

Relevant references:

Interpretation note: ACS “cellular data plan” measures household internet subscription types, not individual smartphone ownership or the quality of service. A household may have a cellular data plan in addition to fixed broadband, or may rely on cellular as its primary internet connection.

Mobile phone subscription (county-level limitations)

  • Official, county-level “mobile penetration” (subscriptions per 100 residents) is typically compiled by commercial or industry datasets and is not generally published as an official county statistic by the Census Bureau or FCC.
  • National and state-level adoption indicators (including device ownership and internet use) are published by federal statistical programs, but they usually do not provide reliable county estimates.

Mobile internet usage patterns (usage vs. availability)

Reliable county-specific statistics on how residents use mobile internet (e.g., share streaming, telehealth usage via mobile, hotspot dependence, app usage) are generally not published as official metrics.

What can be stated without speculation:

  • In rural areas with limited fixed broadband options, households are more likely to report cellular plans among their internet subscriptions (measurable via ACS), reflecting greater practical dependence on mobile networks for internet access.
  • Performance and user experience depend on both availability (where LTE/5G is reported) and capacity (spectrum, backhaul, tower density, and congestion), which is not captured directly in county adoption tables.

For map-based, location-specific availability reference, the FCC map remains the primary public tool:

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

County-level device-type data availability

  • Official county-level statistics specifically separating smartphones vs. feature phones are not typically available from major federal statistical releases.
  • Device-type insights are more commonly available at national or state level through surveys (e.g., NTIA or other federal instruments), not as standardized county outputs.

What can be supported using official county data

At the county level, ACS can indicate whether households have a cellular data plan as a form of internet subscription, but it does not identify whether the plan is used via smartphone, tablet, hotspot, or another device. As a result, claims about the proportion of smartphones versus other mobile devices in Custer County cannot be stated definitively using standard public county datasets.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage and connectivity

Rural settlement pattern and population density

  • Lower population density generally means fewer towers per square mile and longer distances to infrastructure, contributing to more variable coverage and performance outside town centers.
  • Miles City serves as a service hub for the county; network investment and coverage density typically concentrate around population centers, though the FCC map should be used for reported coverage confirmation.

Primary demographic and housing context:

Terrain and land use

  • The county’s broad plains and river corridors can support wide-area propagation, but localized terrain features and long distances still affect signal strength and the economics of network buildout.
  • Large rural counties also include substantial road mileage and remote residences where reported coverage may not translate to consistent indoor service.

Income, age, and housing characteristics (data availability and limits)

  • County demographic variables (age distribution, income, education, housing occupancy) are available through the Census Bureau and can correlate with differences in technology adoption. However, county-level official outputs generally do not tie these variables directly to mobile phone ownership or smartphone share.
  • The ACS supports analysis of internet subscription types by demographic characteristics in many cases, but conclusions specifically about “mobile phone usage” remain constrained by the survey’s focus on household subscription categories rather than individual device ownership.

Summary of what is known vs. not available at county scale

  • Known (public, county-relevant):
  • Not consistently available as official county metrics:
    • Mobile “penetration” (subscriptions per capita) for Custer County.
    • Smartphone vs. feature-phone shares for Custer County.
    • Detailed county-level mobile usage behavior (app usage, mobile-only reliance at the individual level, hotspot usage rates) in a standardized public series.

These limitations reflect how U.S. public statistics divide responsibilities: the FCC primarily publishes availability mapping for broadband, while adoption and device ownership are typically measured via surveys that are not always granular enough for definitive county-level smartphone/feature-phone and mobile-only usage estimates.

Social Media Trends

Custer County is in southeastern Montana, with Miles City as the county seat and primary population center. The county’s rural settlement pattern, ranching and agriculture base, and regional service/retail hub role of Miles City contribute to a social media environment where mobile-first access, community information sharing, and locally oriented groups/pages tend to be prominent.

User statistics (penetration and active use)

  • County-specific social media penetration figures are not published in major U.S. public datasets at the county level. The most reliable approach is to reference national and state-context benchmarks.
  • U.S. adult social media use: Approximately 69% of U.S. adults report using social media, based on survey research from the Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.
  • Broadband and smartphone access context (important for rural counties): Rural areas generally show lower broadband availability and subscription rates than urban areas, shaping platform choice and usage intensity; see the Pew Research Center internet and broadband fact sheet for national patterns that commonly apply to rural regions.

Age group trends (who uses social media most)

National survey patterns consistently show higher usage among younger adults, with a notable drop among older age groups:

  • 18–29: Highest overall adoption and multi-platform use (especially Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube).
  • 30–49: High adoption; heavier Facebook use alongside Instagram and YouTube.
  • 50–64: Moderate-to-high adoption; Facebook and YouTube dominate.
  • 65+: Lowest adoption; Facebook and YouTube are most common among users. Source basis: detailed age-by-platform estimates from the Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.

Gender breakdown

Nationally, overall social media use differs modestly by gender, but platform choice shows clearer gender patterning:

  • Women tend to over-index on visually oriented and community-oriented platforms (commonly Pinterest and Instagram) and are slightly more represented in certain social sharing behaviors.
  • Men tend to over-index on some discussion- and video-centric behaviors, with many platforms showing near-parity overall. For platform-level gender splits, see the Pew Research Center social media fact sheet and methodology notes.

Most-used platforms (percentages where available)

County-level platform shares are not released in public, high-quality datasets; the most defensible reference is U.S. adult platform usage:

  • YouTube: 83% of U.S. adults
  • Facebook: 68%
  • Instagram: 47%
  • Pinterest: 35%
  • TikTok: 33%
  • LinkedIn: 30%
  • WhatsApp: 29%
  • Snapchat: 27%
  • X (formerly Twitter): 22% Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet (U.S. adults; most recent update reflected on the fact sheet).

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)

  • Local-information utility is typically higher in rural counties: Facebook Pages and Groups commonly function as distribution channels for school updates, weather and road conditions, community events, and local commerce announcements, aligning with nationwide patterns of Facebook’s role as a general-purpose network.
  • Video consumption is cross-demographic: YouTube’s high penetration nationally supports broad reach across age groups, with usage extending into older demographics more than most other platforms (Pew platform comparisons in the social media fact sheet).
  • Younger audiences skew toward short-form video: TikTok and Instagram Reels usage is concentrated among younger adults, producing higher exposure to short-form video formats and creator-driven content compared with older age groups (Pew age-by-platform distributions).
  • Messaging and sharing behaviors vary by cohort: Younger users tend to combine public posting with direct messaging and group chats, while older users more often rely on feed-based consumption and community pages/groups, consistent with Pew-reported age gradients in platform adoption and usage intensity.
  • Connectivity constraints influence engagement: Rural broadband gaps are associated with greater reliance on mobile connectivity and asynchronous consumption (scrolling, watching clips, reading local updates) rather than high-bandwidth, always-on behaviors; see the rural/urban connectivity patterns summarized in the Pew Research Center internet and broadband fact sheet.

Family & Associates Records

Family and associate-related public records in Custer County, Montana are maintained primarily through Montana state vital records systems and county-level court and recording offices.

Birth and death records are vital records held by the State of Montana (not the county) and are generally available only as certified copies to eligible requesters under state restrictions. Access and ordering information is provided by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Vital Records (Montana DPHHS Vital Records). Adoption records are typically sealed by law and managed through the state and courts; access is restricted and governed by confidentiality rules.

Marriage licenses are usually issued and recorded at the county level, and certified copies are commonly obtained through the Custer County Clerk of Court (Custer County Clerk of Court). Divorce and other family-related case files are maintained by the Clerk of Court as district court records; public access varies by case type and sealing orders.

Property records that may reflect family or associate relationships (deeds, liens) are recorded and searchable through the Custer County Clerk and Recorder (Custer County Clerk and Recorder).

Online availability varies: some information is accessible through state or county portals, while certified copies and non-digitized files commonly require in-person requests or mailed applications. Privacy limits apply to vital records, sealed court files, and records containing protected personal identifiers.

Marriage & Divorce Records

Types of records available

  • Marriage licenses and marriage records
    • Marriage licenses are issued at the county level and are the basis for the county marriage record once the license is completed and returned after the ceremony.
  • Divorce decrees (dissolution of marriage) and related case records
    • Divorces are handled as district court civil cases. The final court order is commonly titled a Decree of Dissolution of Marriage (or similar wording).
  • Annulments (declaration of invalidity of marriage)
    • Annulments are also district court matters and are maintained as court case records, with a final judgment/order declaring the marriage invalid.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

  • Marriage records (Custer County)
    • Filed/maintained by: Custer County Clerk of District Court (marriage license records are typically kept by the Clerk of District Court in Montana counties).
    • Access: Copies are obtained through the Clerk of District Court’s office. The county maintains the local record created from the issued license and returned certificate.
  • Divorce and annulment records (Custer County)
    • Filed/maintained by: Custer County District Court, with records kept by the Clerk of District Court as the court record custodian.
    • Access:
      • Case files and decrees: Available through the Clerk of District Court, subject to court rules and any confidentiality orders.
      • Statewide case index access: Montana courts provide public access to many case docket entries through the Montana Judicial Branch “Court Records” portal (https://courts.mt.gov/). Availability and visibility vary by case type and confidentiality status; obtaining certified copies is handled by the Clerk of District Court.

Typical information included in these records

  • Marriage license / marriage record
    • Full legal names of the parties
    • Date and place of marriage (county/city, venue details as recorded)
    • Date the license was issued and license number
    • Officiant name and title, and certification/return information
    • Witness information (when recorded)
    • Signatures (as reflected on the recorded document)
  • Divorce decree and court case record
    • Names of the parties and case number
    • Filing date and judgment/decree date
    • Findings/orders dissolving the marriage
    • Terms addressing property distribution and debt allocation
    • Child-related orders, when applicable (parenting plan/residential schedule, decision-making, child support)
    • Spousal maintenance (alimony), when ordered
    • Restored name orders, when granted
  • Annulment judgment/order and court case record
    • Names of the parties and case number
    • Filing date and judgment/order date
    • Court determination that the marriage is invalid (terminology varies)
    • Associated orders related to property, support, or children, when applicable

Privacy or legal restrictions

  • Public record baseline
    • Many marriage records and court judgments are generally treated as public records, but access is governed by Montana public records law, court rules, and specific confidentiality statutes.
  • Restricted/confidential court information
    • Divorce and annulment case files may contain protected content (including financial account numbers, minor children’s identifying information, and other sensitive data). Courts may restrict specific filings or redact information.
    • Records involving minors, adoption-related matters, certain protection proceedings, or documents sealed by court order are not publicly accessible in full.
  • Vital records administration
    • Montana maintains statewide vital statistics through the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, but county records remain the primary local source for marriage license documents and court records for divorces/annulments.
  • Certified copies
    • Certified copies of marriage licenses and court decrees are issued by the record custodian (typically the Clerk of District Court) under applicable identification, fee, and certification requirements; some documents may be provided only in non-certified form or with redactions depending on legal restrictions.

Education, Employment and Housing

Custer County is in southeastern Montana on the Yellowstone River, with Miles City as the county seat and primary service center. The county has a largely rural settlement pattern outside Miles City, a relatively older age profile than fast‑growing Montana urban counties, and an economy shaped by local government and regional trade/service functions, agriculture, transportation, and health care. Recent community conditions reflect typical eastern Montana dynamics: stable-to-slow population change, long driving distances for work and services, and housing stock dominated by detached single‑family homes.

Education Indicators

Public schools (counts and names)

Public K–12 education is primarily provided through Miles City Unified School District (Miles City Public Schools) and smaller surrounding districts serving rural areas. A consolidated, authoritative school-by-school list for the county is typically best verified through state directories; the Montana Office of Public Instruction district and school directory provides the official roster for the county and district names in use (see the Montana Office of Public Instruction).
Commonly referenced public schools in Miles City include:

  • Custer County District High School (Miles City)
  • Washington Middle School (Miles City)
  • Jefferson Elementary School (Miles City)
  • Garfield Elementary School (Miles City)

Note: Smaller rural schools may operate under separate elementary/high school districts or cooperative arrangements; the OPI directory is the definitive source for current openings/closures and official names.

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

  • Student–teacher ratio: Countywide ratios vary by district size and rural enrollment; smaller rural schools generally report lower student–teacher ratios than larger town-based schools. A consistent countywide ratio is not always published as a single figure; district-level staffing and enrollment are reported through Montana OPI.
  • Graduation rate: The most comparable measure is the 4‑year cohort graduation rate published by Montana OPI for high schools. Custer County’s graduation performance generally tracks eastern Montana norms and is reported at the individual high school level rather than as a county aggregate (see OPI accountability/reporting pages via Montana OPI).

Adult educational attainment

Adult educational attainment is reported by the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS). For the most recent county estimates, the ACS profile tables provide:

  • High school diploma or higher (age 25+): available via ACS county profiles
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+): available via ACS county profiles
    The most direct, regularly updated county snapshot is available through the Census Bureau’s county profile for Custer County (ACS 5‑year estimates) at data.census.gov.

Notable programs (STEM, CTE, AP)

  • Career and Technical Education (CTE): Montana public high schools commonly provide CTE pathways (e.g., welding, construction trades, agriculture, business/IT, health-related courses) aligned to state CTE standards; local offerings vary by school and are typically listed in district course catalogs and OPI CTE reporting.
  • Advanced Placement (AP) / dual credit: Montana districts often offer AP and/or dual‑credit arrangements with Montana University System partners; availability is school-specific and most reliably confirmed through district course guides and OPI reporting.
  • STEM programming: STEM participation often occurs through standard math/science sequences, applied science/technology electives, and extracurriculars; program breadth is generally greater in larger districts.

School safety measures and counseling resources

Montana districts commonly implement building access controls, visitor check‑in procedures, required safety drills, and coordination with local law enforcement, consistent with state guidance and district policy. School counseling resources are typically provided through school counselors and referral relationships with local behavioral health providers; staffing levels and service models differ by school size. District policy handbooks and OPI school climate/safety guidance provide the most current policy framing (see Montana Office of Public Instruction).

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent year available)

The most reliable local unemployment figures are produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS) and disseminated for Montana counties through the state labor agency. The latest annual and monthly county unemployment rates are available via:

Custer County’s unemployment rate is typically reported as a monthly percentage with an annual average; the current “most recent year” should be taken from the latest published annual average in those systems.

Major industries and employment sectors

Custer County’s employment base is commonly concentrated in:

  • Government/public administration and public education (county seat functions and school employment)
  • Health care and social assistance (regional health services centered in Miles City)
  • Retail trade and accommodation/food services (regional shopping and services for surrounding rural areas)
  • Transportation and warehousing (interstate/highway freight activity and regional logistics)
  • Agriculture and related services (ranching and supporting industries; direct farm employment may be undercounted due to self-employment/family operations) Industry composition and payroll employment trends are available through Montana LMI and the Census Bureau’s industry/occupation tables on data.census.gov.

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Occupational distribution typically reflects the sector mix, with higher shares in:

  • Office and administrative support
  • Sales and related occupations
  • Transportation/material moving
  • Management
  • Healthcare practitioners/support
  • Education, training, and library Detailed occupation percentages and counts are available through ACS “Occupation by industry” tables and Montana LMI profiles.

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

  • Commuting mode: Personal vehicle commuting predominates; public transit use is typically limited in rural eastern Montana counties.
  • Mean travel time to work: The county mean commute time is published by ACS and is best cited from the current ACS 5‑year county profile on data.census.gov. Rural counties often show moderate mean commute times, with longer commutes for residents living outside Miles City.

Local employment vs. out‑of‑county work

Custer County includes a regional service hub (Miles City), so a substantial share of residents work within the county, while out‑commuting occurs for specialized jobs in energy, construction, transportation, and professional roles elsewhere in the region. The ACS “County-to-county commuting flows” and “Place of work” tables provide the most consistent estimates of in‑county versus out‑of‑county commuting, accessible via data.census.gov.

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership rate and rental share

Homeownership and rental occupancy shares are reported by the ACS for Custer County. The most current county tenure percentages are available in the ACS housing profile at data.census.gov. In counties with a large detached-housing stock and stable population, homeownership commonly exceeds the U.S. average, with rentals concentrated in the county seat.

Median property values and recent trends

  • Median home value: The ACS provides the median value of owner‑occupied housing units for Custer County (latest 5‑year estimate) at data.census.gov.
  • Recent trends (proxy framing): Eastern Montana counties have generally seen slower price appreciation than high-growth western Montana metros, with values influenced by interest rates, local wages, and limited new construction. For transaction-based price trends (as distinct from ACS estimates), local REALTOR® market reports or state housing dashboards are commonly used; a statewide housing overview is available through the Montana Department of Commerce housing resources.

Typical rent prices

  • Median gross rent: The ACS reports median gross rent for Custer County (latest 5‑year estimate) on data.census.gov.
    Rental supply is typically concentrated in Miles City, with a smaller share of multi‑unit properties and limited new apartment construction compared with Montana’s larger cities.

Types of housing

Housing stock is dominated by:

  • Detached single‑family homes (in Miles City neighborhoods and on rural parcels)
  • Manufactured homes (a common component of rural and small-town Montana housing)
  • Small multifamily properties and apartments (primarily in Miles City) Rural lots and ranch properties account for substantial land area; housing density outside Miles City is low.

Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools/amenities)

  • Miles City: Neighborhoods near the central business area and school campuses generally provide the shortest access to schools, clinics, grocery retail, and county services.
  • Outside Miles City: Residential locations are more dispersed, with longer travel times to schools and amenities and greater reliance on personal vehicles.

Property tax overview (rate and typical cost)

Montana property taxes are based on taxable value, classification, and local mill levies; effective tax rates vary by location and levy structure. County‑level property tax collections and levy information are maintained by the Montana Department of Revenue and county government offices. A statewide explanation of Montana property taxation is available via the Montana Department of Revenue.
A single “average homeowner cost” is not consistently published as a county standard in the same way as some states; the most comparable proxy for typical household tax burden is the ACS “median real estate taxes paid” for owner‑occupied homes, available for Custer County through data.census.gov.

Table of Contents

Other Counties in Montana