Custer County Led Montana in Home Cooling in 2023

New Census Bureau data revealed that 95.5% of Custer County households had air conditioning in 2023.

Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Residential

Custer County Led Montana in Home Cooling in 2023

Live Poll

Is your current home cooling system sufficient for the extreme heat events in your area?

Data collected in 2023 showed that Custer County held the highest percentage of air-conditioned homes in Montana at 95.5%. Conversely, Montana ranked as the state with the fifth-lowest residential air conditioning prevalence in the United States.

Why it matters

Understanding regional cooling trends helps residents assess infrastructure needs and climate adaptation as temperature extremes, such as the 115-degree heat recorded in Miles City, become a factor.

Custer County reached a 95.5% air conditioning prevalence among 5,044 surveyed households. In comparison, neighboring regional states showed higher prevalence, including North Dakota at 97.9% and South Dakota at 95.4%.

The players

United States Census Bureau

This federal agency is responsible for producing data about the American people and economy through surveys and the decennial census.

Custer County

This administrative division in eastern Montana serves as the focal point for regional cooling infrastructure statistics.

The details

The Census Bureau utilized a model combining American Housing Survey and American Community Survey data to estimate cooling availability. While Custer County led the state, Deer Lodge County recorded the lowest prevalence at just 44.6%.

2023: Census Bureau data on residential air conditioning was collected.
July 12, 2026: Miles City recorded a temperature of 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

Roadmap

This report updates the figures previously established by the Census Bureau's standardized tracking of housing amenities. These statistics highlight the disparity in residential infrastructure across rural and mountain-adjacent regions of the United States.

Residents in areas with lower air conditioning prevalence may face higher risks during extreme heat events like the 115-degree record seen in Miles City. Homeowners should evaluate their cooling capabilities against local climate data to ensure comfort and safety.

The takeaway

Reliable climate control data helps homeowners prioritize necessary upgrades before peak summer temperatures arrive. Monitoring these trends allows communities to better prepare for future heat waves in historically cooler regions.