COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Custer County, Montana
Road fatality data for Custer County (MT). Data period: 2016-2021.
- 7
- Total Fatalities (2016-2021)
- 0
- Latest Year Deaths
- 6.7
- Per 100k Residents
- Stable
- Trend
The verdict
Custer County's fatality rate of 6.7 per 100,000 residents puts it among the safest one in ten U.S. counties by that per-capita measure.
- 91%
- of rated U.S. counties are deadlier per capita
- 21.6/100k
- Montana county average
- Stable
- fatality trend
What the Data Shows
Custer County, Montana recorded 7 total road fatalities across 7 reported crashes during the 2016-2021 reporting window, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The most recent year covered by the data logged 0 deaths on county roads, and the annual average works out to approximately 0.8 fatalities per year. Adjusted for population, the fatality rate is 6.7 per 100,000 residents, which puts it among the safest one in ten U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
With a small recorded crash count (7), FARS does not publish an individual cause-code breakdown for Custer County, so readers looking for contributing-factor data should use the Montana state page, which aggregates county-level case files into statewide totals. Either way, the underlying records are drawn from a census of fatal crashes, not a statistical sample, so the counts are actual deaths rather than estimates.
The directional trend for Custer County is stable, meaning annual counts have stayed within a narrow band relative to the average. Residents, insurers, and policy analysts can use this baseline alongside population density, highway mile data, and rural-versus-urban road mix to judge whether Custer County's 7-death total is proportionate to its exposure. All numbers are for research and informational use only.
Total Fatalities
7
Latest Year
0
Avg Annual
0.8
Rate per 100K
6.7
Trend
↔ Stable
How does Custer County compare?
Average annual road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Custer County is 69% safer than the comparison
Average annual road deaths from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System over population from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023). Rates shown for counties with 10,000+ residents.
Among the 15 rated counties in Montana, Custer County ranks 15 for per-capita risk, below the state's own per-capita average of 21.6 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate puts it among the safest one in ten U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Custer County's rate and the state average is 14.9 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Cascade County, at 10.8 per 100,000 (a difference of 4.1). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Big Horn County (94.9), Glacier County (36.0), Roosevelt County (35.9), Jefferson County (35.3), Sanders County (28.5), Carbon County (28.0), Lake County (24.9), Park County (24.6), Lincoln County (20.1), Fergus County (17.8), Flathead County (14.0), Missoula County (12.3), Hill County (11.1), Cascade County (10.8).
Custer County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
7 Among the safer counties a lower per-capita rate than 91% of 2,392 rated counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more rated 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 NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-06-03
Custer County's rate vs. the Montana state average
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Custer County, Montana?
Custer County recorded 7 total traffic fatalities across 7 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2021). The most recent year saw 0 fatalities. The county averages approximately 0.8 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Custer County?
With a small recorded crash count (7), FARS does not publish an individual cause-code breakdown for Custer County. Statewide data for Montana may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Custer County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Custer County is stable. Fatality counts have remained relatively consistent over the data period.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Custer County?
Custer County has a fatality rate of 6.7 per 100,000 residents, which puts it among the safest one in ten U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
How does Custer County compare to the rest of Montana?
Custer County's per-capita rate of 6.7 per 100,000 residents is below the Montana county average of 21.6. Visit the Montana state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Custer County come from?
All road fatality data comes from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of fatal motor vehicle crashes on public roads in the United States. FARS data covers the period 2016-2021 and includes all crashes resulting in at least one fatality within 30 days.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) This information is for research and informational purposes only
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainRoadSafety is computed directly from NHTSA FARS census data, no number is typed in by an editor. County figures are computed directly from NHTSA FARS census data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.