Custer is a community in Whatcom County, Washington, home to about 477 people across 2.2 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 98240 and 98248.
Homes sold for a median of $357 per square foot across 2 ZIP codes in the three months ending August 2026, and 1 of 2 were seller’s markets.
Part is in Custer
Mostly Ferndale; part is in Custer
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Custer. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Custer’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
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| Nearest major airport | Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)102 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Bellingham International Airport (BLI)9 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Seattle, WA90 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Custer; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Custer had 518 residents in the 2020 census, up 73% since 2000.
It’s the 479th largest of 628 towns in Washington by population.
Whatcom County grew from 24,116 residents in 1900 to 226,847 in 2020.
Whatcom County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 73°F in summer, and winter lows average 34°F. About 41.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 9 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Blaine, WA weather station (9 miles away).
80,648 jobs at 7,146 businesses in Whatcom County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
124 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Custer’s ZIP codes.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 17 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 1 |
| Dentists | 22 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 14 |
| Mental health providers | 28 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 26 |
| Optometrists | 8 |
| Chiropractors | 8 |
| Pharmacies | 9 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Grocery stores (1 nearby)
Libraries
Museums (1 nearby)
Theaters and performance venues
Counts are within about 1 mile of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Ferndale School District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central ElementaryFerndale | Pre-K–5 | 315 | Public | 5.0 mi |
| Ferndale Special ServicesFerndale | Pre-K | 20 | Special Education | 3.9 mi |
| Mountain View ElementaryFerndale | Pre-K–8 | 101 | Public | 4.5 mi |
| Cascadia ElementaryFerndale | K–5 | 440 | Public | 3.5 mi |
| Custer ElemCuster | K–5 | 392 | Public | 1.0 mi |
| Eagleridge ElementaryFerndale | K–5 | 457 | Public | 3.8 mi |
| Ferndale Virtual AcademyFerndale | K–12 | 154 | Public | 4.5 mi |
| Skyline Elementary SchoolFerndale | K–5 | 496 | Public | 3.7 mi |
| Horizon Middle SchoolFerndale | 6–8 | 433 | Public | 3.8 mi |
| Vista Middle SchoolFerndale | 6–8 | 550 | Public | 3.9 mi |
| Ferndale High SchoolFerndale | 9–12 | 1,325 | Public | 4.5 mi |
| Ferndale Re-EngagementFerndale | 9–12 | 33 | Alternative Education | 3.9 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meadows Montessori SchoolFerndale | Pre-K–6 | 67 | Nonsectarian | 5.0 mi |
| Providence Christian School NwFerndale | Pre-K–11 | 38 | Christian (no specific denomination) | 4.2 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Ferndale.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.